the progressive restriction in potential cell fates, until acquisition of a specialised function is achieved.
The acquisition or possession of one or more characteristics or functions different from that of the original type.
The process during which young, immature (unspecialized) cells take on individual characteristics and reach their mature (specialized) form and function.
The, generally irreversible, process by which a cell or group of cells adopt a specialised function - controlled at the level of genes by regulatory proteins.
In the epidermis, cell differentiation refers to the process whereby "generalist" cells in the lowest layers of the epidermis (basal layer) change into different cells capable of "specific" or different functions.
Cell differentiation, in embryology, is the process in embryonic development during which unspecialized cells become specialized for particular functions. Differentiation, in oncology, is the degree of similarity or difference of tumor cells to the structure of the organ from which the tumor arose.
Key development process. Cell lineages become specialized in structure, composition, and function by activating and suppressing part of the genome selectively.