BIO 448
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF DIFFERENTIATION
Factors involved in triggering cell differentiation:
1. environmental influences 2. cell signaling
3. level of development of the organism
The role of environment in cell differentiation
• Cell’s internal environmental factors
• Cell’s external environmental factors
affect the gene expression and
cell differentiation
Internal Factors
• affect cell specialization
• affect manufacture of proteins
Influences from the environment of the organism can affect
• cell signaling
• gene expression
• cell differentiation
change, stop or disrupt the process.
Environmental temperature can influence the development of some organisms.
Drugs can disrupt harmful cell differentiation.
• Injuries can affect gene expression.
• Viruses and bacteria can influence cell differentiation.
• Toxic chemicals can affect cell differentiation.
Adaptation is effective for some of the environmental influences