Gene Expression and Cell Specialization

AP Biology· difficulty 2/5

Same genome, different cells Neuron Muscle expresses NMDA receptor expresses myosin

Which mechanism best accounts for the production of distinct cell types from a single genome?

  • A

    Different cells use different genetic codes.

  • B

    Differential transcriptional regulation, including tissue-specific transcription factors and chromatin remodeling.

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  • C

    Random translation of identical mRNAs.

  • D

    Each cell type contains a different set of genes.

Explanation

All somatic cells generally share the same genome; cell identity arises from differential gene expression driven by tissue-specific transcription factors, chromatin states, and signal-regulated networks.

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