Cellular differentiation
The process by which a cell becomes specialized in order to perform a specific function, as in the case of a liver cell, a blood cell, or a neuron. There are more than 250 general types of cells in the human body. Differentiation is the process that takes place inside an embryo that determines which genes are expressed and hence what type of cell will result.
Note: The ability of embryonic stem cells to undergo differentiation into any cell in the body is what makes them a focus of modern research.
Read Also:
- Cell-pack
a container made of cellular plastic, as one used for holding flowers or plants.
- Cellular immune response
cellular immune response n. See cell-mediated immune response.
- Cellular-immunity
cell-mediated immunity. immunity independent of antibody but dependent on the recognition of antigen by T cells and their subsequent destruction of cells bearing the antigen or on the secretion by T cells of lymphokines that enhance the ability of phagocytes to eliminate the antigen. cell-mediated immunity n. Abbr. CMI Immunity resulting from a cell-mediated immune […]
- Cellular immunodeficiency
cellular immunodeficiency n. Any of a group of disorders associated with recurrent bacterial, fungal, protozoal, and viral infections and characterized by atrophy of the thymus gland, depressed cell-mediated immunity, and defective humoral immunity. Also called Nezelof type of thymic alymphoplasia.
- Cellular infiltration
cellular infiltration n. The migration of cells from their sources of origin, or the direct extension of cells as a result of unusual growth and multiplication, into organs or tissues. Historical Examples