Question

Explain how multicellular organisms differentiate their cells to perform specific functions.

A) Cell specialization, gene regulation, cellular cooperation, tissue development
B) Cell division, tissue differentiation, genetic modification, organ formation
C) Cellular organization, cell division, tissue development, organ specialization
D) Genetic diversity, cell specialization, organ development, tissue differentiation

Answer 1

Multicellular organisms differentiate their cells to perform specific functions through the expression of different sets of genes in each specialized cell. Cells carry out their specialized functions by turning on or off certain genes in response to changes in the environment or during the organism's development.

Step-by-step explanation:

Cells in multicellular organisms are specialized; cells in different tissues look very different and perform different functions. For example, a muscle cell is very different from a liver cell, which is very different from a skin cell. These differences are a consequence of the expression of different sets of genes in each of these cells.

All cells have certain basic functions they must perform for themselves, such as converting the energy in sugar molecules into energy in ATP. Each cell also has many genes that are not expressed, and expresses many that are not expressed by other cells, such that it can carry out its specialized functions.

In addition, cells will turn on or off certain genes at different times in response to changes in the environment or at different times during the development of the organism.