6.5: Eukaryotic Development Flashcards
What two things occur during embryonic development?
- cell division
- cell differentiation
What is cell differentiation?
Cell becomes specialized in their structure and function
What is morphogenesis?
The physical process that gives an organism its shape
How do cells differentiate during early development? (2)
- Cytoplasmic determinants
- induction
What are cytoplasmic determinants?
- substances in the maternal egg that influence cells
What occurs in induction?
- cell to cell signals that can cause a change in gene expression
What do both cytoplasmic determinants and induction influence?
Pattern formation, aka a “body plan” for the organism
What are homeotic genes?
Map out the body structures
What plays a critical role as cells differentiate?
Apoptosis
What is apoptosis? (2)
- programmed cell death
- allows structures to take their form
What is an example of if apoptosis did not occur?
If it didn’t occur during the development of human hands and feet, we would have been born with webbed fingers and toes
