[Campbell Biology P.432] According to the text, what is the key difference between cellular ... | Practice Question
According to the text, what is the key difference between cellular determination and differentiation in embryonic development?
A: Determination involves observable structural changes, while differentiation is purely molecular.
B: Determination is an irreversible commitment to a cell fate that occurs at the molecular level, whereas differentiation involves the visible expression of that determined fate.
C: Differentiation always precedes determination, as cells must first acquire specific functions before committing to a lineage.
D: Both determination and differentiation refer to the same process, simply described at different stages of embryonic growth.
Explanation
The text defines determination as the point at which an embryonic cell is irreversibly committed to becoming a particular cell type, showing up only at the molecular level. Differentiation, in contrast, is the process by which a cell attains its determined fate, becoming noticeably different in structure and function.