Within multicellular organisms, not all cells retain the ability to divide
In a multicellular organism, most cells lose the ability to divide once they specialise. Only certain cell types keep that ability throughout life.
Real World
Human red blood cells lose their nucleus as they mature, making them permanently unable to divide — which is why the body must constantly produce new ones from stem cells in bone marrow at a rate of around 2 million per second.
Exam Focus
If asked to 'explain', state that differentiation involves permanent gene switching — not just cell specialisation.
Evaluation Scaffold
A four-step framework for high-quality evaluation. Use this for 'assess', 'evaluate', and 'to what extent' questions.
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