Final answer:
Cellular differentiation is the development process by which a fertilized human egg progresses into a complex organism with about 250 distinct types of cells, including muscle cells, each specialized for unique functions. This differentiation results from the specialization of cells derived from the three germ layers formed during embryonic development.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phenomenon you’re asking about, where cells become part of different organs like the digestive glands, muscle, or bone, is an example of cellular differentiation. Cellular differentiation is a crucial process in which a single cell, such as a fertilized human egg, develops into a complex organism composed of about 250 distinct types of cells, each performing unique functions. The journey begins with a fertilized egg, which then undergoes numerous divisions and specializations, forming various tissues and organs.
During this process, cells transform from being totipotent—having the potential to differentiate into any cell type—to being specialized for specific functions. For instance, muscle cells develop from the mesoderm, one of the three primary germ layers formed during the early stages of embryonic development. Each germ layer—the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm—gives rise to different cell types and tissues in the body.