Final answer:
Galaxy types can be determined by initial conditions or later interactions. Massive elliptical galaxies form through a rapid collapse of gas and dark matter.
Step-by-step explanation:
Astronomers suspect that a galaxy's type can be determined either by initial conditions in a protogalactic cloud or by later interactions between galaxies.
Galaxy formation models suggest that massive elliptical galaxies formed in a single, rapid collapse of gas and dark matter, while spiral galaxies formed from a protogalactic cloud that collapsed and formed a rotating disk.
Collisions and mergers between galaxies also play a role in determining a galaxy's properties and development.