differentiation
Meaning of differentiation: Differentiation is the process by which unspecialized cells develop into distinct, mature cell types suited to specific functions in the body.
Definition of differentiation
Differentiation is the process by which a relatively unspecialized cell develops the specific structure and function of a mature cell type, such as a muscle cell, nerve cell, or skin cell. It occurs throughout development, as a single fertilized egg gives rise to the many distinct cell types that make up the body, and it continues into adult life as stem cells replenish certain tissues.
During differentiation, a cell activates a specific set of genes suited to its eventual role while other genes become inactive, producing the particular proteins and structures that define that cell type's appearance and function.
In cancer, differentiation is used somewhat differently, describing how closely a tumor's cells resemble normal, mature cells of the tissue they arose from. Well differentiated tumor cells retain much of that normal structure and tend to behave less aggressively, while poorly differentiated or undifferentiated cells look markedly different from normal tissue and are generally associated with more aggressive growth.
Used in a sentence
The pathology report described the tumor cells as moderately differentiated.
Good to know
Differentiation describes a general biological process common to all developing cells, and its use in grading a tumor's appearance is a specific application of that same underlying concept rather than a separate meaning.
Word origin
Where “differentiation” comes from
Formed from Latin differentia, meaning difference, from dis-, meaning apart, and ferre, meaning to carry or bear.