If all cells carry the same DNA, how do they all have unique functions?

Answer 1

Early on in the development of the fetus cells start to differentiate, or specialize. At that point cells start to use a very specific subset of genes that make them what they are. So even though there are the same 25,000 genes in every cell, only a fraction of those are used in blood cells, a different fraction in brain cells, yet another different subset in muscle cells, etc.....

Answer 2

All cells do carry the same DNA, but DNA get's read in different ways in different cells. Some genes on a cell get read when feedback causes a protein(RNA polymerase) in the cell to transcript the gene at where the promoter in the DNA is. This is a process in RNA construction that makes protein chains. These proteins have different functions that make the cell have different functions.

Answer 3

Just because they have the same dna doesn't mean they are all the same. A blood cell looks very different from a muscle cell. The dna tells the cell how to look and how to act.

Answer 4

Using the candy factory analogy, the DNA boss sits in the candy factory office (nucleus) handing out recipe cards to messengers (mRNA) to take out into the factory to direct the workers (tRNA) in the assembly of ingredients (amino acids) to make the candy parts (protein). Not all the recipes are the same--combinations go through different workstations before the final product is assembled.

Part of what happens early on in an organism's development is cell differentiation. Differentiation is how an unspecialized cell becomes specialized into one of the many cells that make up the body. During differentiation, certain genes are turned on and others are switched off (different recipes going out to the factory). As a result, a differentiated cell will develop to perform certain functions.
Since part of the DNA boss's job is to regulate what recipes go out, he also gets feedback in the form of proteins that let him know whether more recipes should go out (and also what kind).

Answer 5

The last answer is close, essentially the transcription of RNA and translation of protein are regulated in a complex web of interactions. This regulation is cell-type specific; so that a unique set of genes are expressed for each cell type. This translates to unique sets of proteins that are present, and that gives rise to the cell function and morphology.

Answer 6

The DNA has building blocks for all the different cells and their diverse functions.

Answer 7

The DNA is not expressed the same way in each cell.

Answer 8

It's the RNA that makes the functions. When the tRNA attaches the codons of the RNA, it creates Amino Acid chains, AKA proteins. These proteins are what carry out all of the life functions.

Answer 9

they have the same DNA but the DNA is not expressed in a uniform manner

Answer 10

Imagine a text book for all lessons, you go to your blood class and they say turn to chapter 4... get it?