Inhibition of cell fate repressors secures the differentiation of the touch receptor neurons of .

Terminal differentiation generates the specialized features and functions that allow postmitotic cells to acquire their distinguishing characteristics. This process is thought to be controlled by transcription factors called 'terminal selectors' that directly activate a set of downstream effector genes. In , the differentiation of both the mechanosensory touch receptor neurons (TRNs) and the multidendritic nociceptor FLP neurons uses the terminal selectors UNC-86 and MEC-3.