# Cell differentiation is an important process in multicellular organisms. Describe what cell differentiation is and explain why, once a cell has differentiated, it cannot produce a cell with a different specialised function.

> WJEC A-Level Biology (Wales) — 1.6 Cell division · Describe and Explain · 5 marks

## Mark scheme (5 marks)

1. Cell differentiation is the production of specialised cells (for greater efficiency)
2. Cells become specialised by altering genes in the cell's DNA
3. Once differentiated, the cell cannot divide to make an unspecialised cell
4. When a differentiated cell divides, the daughter cells are already specialised to carry out the same function
5. Therefore a differentiated cell cannot produce a cell with a different specialised function (e.g. a heart cell cannot divide to produce a skin cell)

## Key terms

- [cell differentiation](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/cell-differentiation)

## Related

- [Revision notes for WJEC A-Level Biology (Wales)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Describe and Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/cell-differentiation-is-an-important-process-68364117) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.