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GED- Development > General Concepts & Definitions > Flashcards

General Concepts & Definitions Flashcards

1
Q

What is descriptive embryology?

A

A field that documents and describes the process & stages of embryonic development in detail

Aims to establish a timeline and morphological understanding of how an embryo develops (e.g. which cells form specific tissues or organs)

Focuses on what happens during development

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2
Q

What organism is commonly studied in descriptive embryology?

A

Xenopus laevis.

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3
Q

What is a fate map?

A

A representation of the cell lineage and fates during development.

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4
Q

What is the experimental embryology approach?

A

Focuses on how & why developmental processes occur

Involves manipulating embryos to investigate the mechanisms and factors underlying development

Aims to uncover the causal relationship, genetic controls and signalling pathways involved in development

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5
Q

What determines cell fate in developmental biology?

A

Inheritance of cell fate determinants and cell-cell communication.

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6
Q

Fill in the blank: The developmental biology version of the nature versus nurture question is about the influence of _______ versus _______.

A

who your parents are; who you hang out with

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7
Q

What is mosaic development?

A

A type of development where cell fate is determined by the distribution of specific factors (like proteins or mRNAs) during cleavage

Key features

  • cell autonomy = cells have predetermined roles based on cytoplasmic determinants inherited during division
  • inflexibility = if a cell is removed, the corresponding part of the organism does not develop
  • relies on asymmetric distribution of molecules
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8
Q

What is the significance of the grey crescent in frog embryos?

A

It is required for normal development and is inherited during the first division.

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9
Q

Who conducted the famous ‘Organizer Experiment’ in 1924?

A

Hilda Mangold and Hans Spemann.

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10
Q

What is the difference between a fate map and a specification map?

A

Fate map assesses what a cell will become in situ, while specification map assesses what it will form if isolated.

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11
Q

What does ‘competence’ refer to in developmental biology?

A

The range of developmental potential of a cell or tissue.

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12
Q

True or False: Fate maps and specification maps are equivalent.

A

False.

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13
Q

What is induction in the context of developmental biology?

A

The process by which a cell influences neighboring cells to change their fate.

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14
Q

What does regulative development mean?

A

The ability of an embryo to adjust and regulate its development.

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15
Q

What is the role of the Nieuwkoop Centre in early frog development?

A

It induces the organizer which influences neural ectoderm and dorsal mesoderm.

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16
Q

What does the term ‘determined’ mean for a cell or tissue?

A

It will develop according to its fate regardless of its environment.

17
Q

What evidence supports mosaic development in embryos?

A

Experiments showing that cytoplasmic determinants dictate cell fate.

18
Q

What are cytoplasmic determinants?

A

Factors in the cytoplasm that influence cell fate during development.

19
Q

What is the significance of Wilhelm Roux’s experiment on frog embryos?

A

It provided evidence for mosaic development.

20
Q

Fill in the blank: The process of cortical rotation in frog embryos breaks _______ symmetry.

A

radial

21
Q

What is the result of the first division in frog embryos?

A

It bisects the grey crescent.

22
Q

What is the 4 signal model of induction events in early frog embryos?

A
  1. General mesoderm inducer from the vegetal pole
  2. Nieuwkoop centre in the dorsal vegetal pole induces organizer
  3. Organizer induces neural ectoderm and dorsalizes ventral mesoderm
  4. Ventral mesoderm antagonizes dorsal mesoderm
23
Q

What is the main conclusion from Conklin’s statement regarding evolution?

A

The principal problem of evolution is understanding modifications in the germ.

24
Q

What is the role of the dorsal lip of the blastopore?

A

It is fated to become notochord and is determined even when transplanted.

25
Q

What is a significant characteristic of the frog oocyte and egg?

A

It has inherent asymmetry.

26
Q

What does the term ‘potency’ refer to in developmental biology?

A

The potential of a cell to develop into different cell types.

27
Q

What is the relationship between mesoderm inducers and competence?

A

Cells must be competent to respond to mesoderm inducers.

28
Q

What does the term ‘asymmetric inheritance’ refer to?

A

The unequal distribution of cytoplasmic determinants during cell division.

29
Q

What is regulative development?

A

Where the fate of embryonic cells is flexible and influenced by their interaction with neighbouring cells and the environment

Key features

  • Cell interactions = cells communicate and adjust their roles based on their position in the embryo
  • Flexibility = if a cell is removed or damaged early in development, other cells can compensate ensuring normal development
  • Relies on inductive signalling and regulatory mechanisms that allow cells to modify their fate dynamically
30
Q

What is a fate map?

A

Show what specific regions of an embryo will develop into at later stages of development under normal conditions

  • Traces the developmental fate of cells or tissues, identifying their ultimate contribution to the organism
  • Reflects the final outcome of cell development
  • Are deterministic = shows what region is destined to form under normal, unmanipulated conditions
31
Q

What are specification maps?

A

Show what specific regions of an embryo will develop into if isolated and allowed to grow independently of surrounding tissues

  • Determines the developmental potential of cells or tissues and their level of commitment to a particular fate
  • Reflects the developmental potential of cells which may not match their ultimate fate in the intact embryo
  • These are more flexible, showing what a region is capable of forming under experimental conditions
32
Q

What is morphogenesis?

A

Process by which form is generated involving coordinated cell movements

33
Q

What is gastrulation?

A

Morphogenic process by which the endoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm layers reach their final positions in the embryo

34
Q

What is neurulation?

A

Morphogenic process by which the nervous system begins to form, especially the formation of the neural tube

35
Q

What is a blastomere?

A

A cell in the early embryo

GED- Development (5 decks)

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