Final answer:
The process by which specialized cells undergo mitosis and are designed to perform specific functions at the highest level is known as 'cell specialization.'
Step-by-step explanation:
After fertilization, each specialized cell undergoes mitosis and becomes tailored in design and function for its specific role within an organism, a process known as cell specialization. This process is critical for the development of a multi-cellular organism, where cells differentiate and acquire distinct characteristics optimized for their unique functions.
Following fertilization, the zygote goes through cleavage, blastulation, and eventually forms a blastocyst. These stages involve numerous rounds of mitosis, where the zygote, which is a single diploid cell, divides to produce genetically identical cells. These cells then differentiate, reading only the specific portions of DNA relevant to their function, similar to how actors read only their own parts from a movie script. This results in variation in size, shape, and metabolic activity among cells specialized for different functions.
The correct answer to the student's question is C. Cell specialization.