Question

When a stem cell divides, it produces two daughter cells. One daughter cell will remain a stem cell, while the other daughter cell will differentiate into a specialized cell.



Which factor will most directly determine what type of specialized cell will be produced?

Select {responseValue}
The genes that are expressed

Select {responseValue}
The length of the cell cycle

Select {responseValue}
The number of chromosomes that are replicated

Select {responseValue}
The size of the cell

Answer 1

The genes that are expressed

Explanation: Cell differentiation is determined by which genes are turned on or off in the daughter cell, producing the proteins that drive a specific cell fate. The other options (cell cycle length, chromosome number, cell size) do not directly specify cell type.