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Wednesday 25 June 2014

Multicellularity.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_(biology)

Cell specialization

Multicellular organisms are organisms that consist of more than one cell, in contrast to single-celled organisms.
In complex multicellular organisms, cells specialize into different cell types that are adapted to particular functions. In mammals, major cell types include skin cellsmuscle cellsneuronsblood cellsfibroblastsstem cells, and others. Cell types differ both in appearance and function, yet are genetically identical. Cells are able to be of the same genotype but different cell type due to the differential regulation of the genes they contain.
Most distinct cell types arise from a single totipotent cell, called a zygote, that differentiates into hundreds of different cell types during the course of development.
Differentiation of cells is driven by different environmental cues (such as cell–cell interaction) and intrinsic differences (such as those caused by the uneven distribution of molecules during division).

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