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difference between specialisation & differentiation (1 Viewer)

mudcake42

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B cells differentiate into the certain type of antibody ... wouldn't that be specialisation??

so what exactly is the difference?
 

Survivor39

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In general biological terminology, differentiation and specialisation is the same. Differentiation of cells is the development of cells with specialised structure and function. e.g. muscle cells, nerve cells.

B cells cannot differentiate into antibodies. B cells are already differentiated. However, B cell can further mature (some people also say "further differentiate") into plasma cells that secrete antibodies.

Does this make sense?
 

Heliotrope

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Why do textbooks frequently use both terms in the same sentence if there's no difference at all. :(:(
 

Hollieee

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I thought that they differentiate in order to become specialised?
 

Survivor39

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It's pretty much the same. Specialised cells are differentiated cells.
 

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