Final answer:
Differentiated cells generally maintain specific gene expression patterns, but they can change in response to external factors or signals, indicating that cell differentiation does not render them completely inflexible in terms of gene expression.
Step-by-step explanation:
differentiated cells can change their gene expression under certain circumstances, though they usually maintain a stable state.
Differentiated cells are specialized cells that have developed to perform specific functions in an organism. Although they have undergone differentiation, this does not mean they are completely incapable of altering their gene expression. In normal development, differentiated cells generally have stable patterns of gene expression necessary for their specific functions. Still, gene expression in a differentiated cell can be influenced by external factors like environmental changes, damage or stress, and during processes such as cell repair or in response to certain signals.
For instance, liver cells can change their gene expression patterns in response to drugs or toxins as they metabolize the substances. Similarly, muscle cells might upregulate specific genes in response to extensive exercise. It's important to note that the capacity for gene expression changes can vary greatly between different cell types and states. Stem cells, though undifferentiated, have a much higher plasticity in their gene expression compared to fully differentiated cells like neurons.