The 2016 Olympic Games in Rio are finally here, and when it comes to women's swimming, Katie Ledecky is absolutely the one to watch. The 19-year-old athlete from Bethesda, Maryland, has already proven herself to be the top female swimmer at this year's games, arriving in Rio with a number of world records to her name, and will likely take home a number of gold medals when all is said and done.
Definition of differentiation. 1 : the act or process of differentiating. 2 : development from the one to the many, the simple to the complex, or the homogeneous to the heterogeneous differentiation of Latin into vernaculars.
Cell differentiation refers to the normal process by which a less specialized cell goes through development and maturation in order to become more distinct in terms of form and function. It is the process in which a cell changes into another cell type. During cell differentiation, the changes may include cell shape, cell size, membrane potential, metabolic activities, and responsiveness. These changes are brought about by modifications in gene expressions. An example of cell differentiation is the development of a single-celled zygote into a multicellular embryo that further develops into a more complex multisystem of distinct cell types of a fetus. The cell size, shape, polarity, metabolism and responsiveness to signals change dramatically such that a less specialized cell becomes more specialized and acquires a more specific role.