Differentiation

The process of development with an increase in the level of organization or complexity of a cell or tissue, accompanied with a more specialized function.

The process whereby an undifferentiated embryonic cell acquires the features of a specialized cell such as a heart, liver, or muscle cell.

The process whereby an unspecialized early embryonic cell acquires the features of a specialized cell such as a heart, liver, or muscle cell.

In cancer, refers to how mature (developed) the cancer cells are in a tumor. Differentiated tumor cells resemble normal cells and tend to grow and spread at a slower rate than undifferentiated or poorly differentiated tumor cells, which lack the structure and function of normal cells and grow uncontrollably.

A process as a result of which unspecialized cells develop structures and functions characteristic of a particular type of cell, typically during the process of development from one cell to many cells, accompanied by a modification of the new cells for the performance of particular functions. The process is generally irreversible in vivo in higher organisms. In tissue culture, the term is used to describe the formation of different cell types.