BIOL3006 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Dermatology, Phase Transition, Keratinocyte
Document Summary
Process by which a less specialised cell becomes a more specialised cell type: normal process in development, become structurally and functionally different, mature phenotype. Cells are born as a result of cell division and their fate can be followed: much easier to do with small organisms, eg. Cells can: remain identical to the parental cell, differentiate to form a specialised cell, undergo apoptosis. Note: quiescence is g0, where a cell can still go back into the cell cycle, where senescence is when cells are entirely removed from the cycle. Cell specialisation: might be beneficial for a particular tissue, produced cells with unique characteristics. Cell interaction: communication, could go to further differentiate, eg. foetal development and maintenance/renewal of regular cells, extrinsic signalling, promote differentiation. Intrinsic signalling: promote characteristics of parental cell. Microsurgery and genetics: decipher sequence of differentiation and tissue development, follow temporal changes to maturity, ablation. Gene cloning and sequencing: can be used to reveal the molecular mechanisms.
