cell differentiation

[carol]

I still don't know what triggers cell differentiation and what governs the cell to be differentiated to particular type.

[ecoli]

different genes are acitivated depending on where the cell is located when the embryo is developing.

[psynapse]

the ECM (extracellular matrix) and cell signaling, also have you heard of the Smith & Krikorian experiment where they found that differentiated carrot cells will revert back into carrot stem cells. Proving that all cells once they have been differentiated still contain all the genes of the organism.

Anyway It has to do with environmental factors surrounding the cell. Different environment calls for different genes to be expressed in order to carry out the job at hand. The cell become specialized in doing it's job.

[carol]

So, I guess, environment accounts for the cell to differentiate depending on the organisms need to adapt. I think its a pretty complex process since the organism must first be exposed to a stimulus, then followed by many successive reactions. Then a particular gene is triggered. cool

[psynapse]

No I mean the environment the cell is in. For example if the cell is in an area of a high concentration of ambiotic fluid inside the womb it will most likely form into skin cells.

[carol]

Yeah, I got it