When a cell differentiates, the following changes occur:
- Gene expression: The expression of genes in the cell changes, resulting in the production of different proteins. These proteins give the cell its specialized function.
- Cell structure: The structure of the cell changes to adapt to its new function. For example, a muscle cell will develop long, thin muscle fibers, while a nerve cell will develop long, branching axons and dendrites.
- Cell division: Differentiated cells generally do not divide, or divide only rarely. This is because they have reached their final form and do not need to produce new cells.
