Cell Specialisation and Differentiation

This lesson covers how cells become specialised for particular functions through the process of differentiation, as required by the AQA GCSE Combined Science Trilogy specification (8464). You need to understand what differentiation is, when it occurs, and be able to describe examples of specialised cells and explain how their structure is adapted to their function.

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What Is Cell Differentiation?

Differentiation is the process by which a cell becomes specialised to perform a particular function. During differentiation, a cell develops specific structural features that make it suited to its role.

• In the early stages of an embryo, cells are unspecialised — they have the potential to become any type of cell.
• As the organism develops, cells differentiate into specific types (e.g. nerve cells, muscle cells, red blood cells).
• Once a cell has differentiated, it generally cannot change into a different type of cell.

Exam Tip: In animals, most differentiation occurs during embryonic development. In plants, differentiation can occur throughout the organism's life because plants retain areas of unspecialised cells called meristems.

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When Does Differentiation Occur?