Where Cell Differentiation Starts?

[Richard Gordon]

Dear Bryan,
That question hasn't been properly answered for over 100 years, which 
is why you won't find a succinct answer in any textbook. I've come up 
with a possible solution: cells in different parts of a tissue 
experience different "differentiation waves" (expansion or 
contraction). They have two sets of genes ready to go, in response to 
the kind of wave they participate in. These waves are easily 
observable (see url below).
Best, -Dick Gordon

>Can someone point me to an explanation of what's different about
>two cells that have just split from one, such that they are
>headed in different functional directions?  We are trying to
>answer this question at a High School level of understanding.
>We find information describing that differentiation happens, but
>not a straightforward explanation of how two cells can be left
>with different characteristics even though they have just split
>from a single cell.
>
>Thanks in advance for any help.
>
Bryan C.


Dr. Richard Gordon, Radiology, U. Manitoba, HSC Rm. GA246, 820 
Sherbrook St., Winnipeg R3A 1R9 Canada, phone:(204)789-3828, 
fax:(204)787-2080/New: The Hierarchical Genome & Differentiation 
Waves: Novel Unification of Development, Genetics & Evolution: 
http://www.wspc.com.sg/books/lifesci/2755.html, New e-mail: 
GordonR at ms.UManitoba.ca (Adjunct: Electrical & Computer Engineering), 
Exec Member: CSTB, CARRF, IEEE-EMBS. 
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