Devleopment L18 Notes Flashcards
What is a fate map? What field of embryology is it part of?
• Fate Map:
- Assessment of the fate of a group of cells based on lineage labelling.
- Descriptive Embryology
What is a specification map? What field of embryology is it part of?
• Specification Map:
- Assessment of what a cell or group of cells will form if removed from their embryonic environment (neighbouring cells)
- Experimental Embryology
Describe the field of descriptive embryology
• Descriptive Embryology:
Doesn’t involve disturbing development
Examination of undisturbed groups of embryological cells
Describe the field of experimental embryology
• Experimental Embryology:
Requires removal of cells / tissues from embryos.
Examination of what the cell believes it should develop into when removed
from other embryological cells & indicators.
Describe what determination means in terms of developmental biology. Give an example.
• Determination:
- Development of a cell or tissue according to fate, even when transplanted into another site in the embryo / new environment.
Eg. Blastophore fated -> Notochord still develops into notochord when transplanted to ventral side of embryo.
Describe competence in terms of developmental biology
• Competence:
- Range of cell fates acquired by a cell or group of cells, given appropriate conditions.
Cell / tissue may be competent to develop into many cell types it would not
normally be fated to form.
Eg. Cap cells -> Blastula stage of frog embryos
Specified & fated -> Ectodermal tissues only
Competent -> Formation of virtually any cell type in embryo, given appropriate signals.
What is induction in terms of developmental biology?
• Induction:
- Process in which a cell / group of cells emit signals
Influences neighbouring cells to change fate
Eg. Induction -> Neural ectoderm by dorsal mesoderm
-> Gastrula stage (Organiser experiment)
