Lecture2

Question 1

what are the 4 processes that occur during embryogenesis?

Answer 1

Pattern formation, cell growth, differentiation and morphogenesis

Question 2

What is pattern formation and what does it determine?

Answer 2

a process by which cells are organised through space and time in a 3D axis. It gives cells positional information e.g. what tissue they belong to

Question 3

What is morphogenesis and what are its properties?

Answer 3

The organisation and movement of cells in order to generate a 3D shape of an organism. Determined by cell adhesion, cell migration, cell death (digits) and cell shape

Question 4

What is cell differentiation?

Answer 4

A process by which cells become different from one another- governed by changes in gene expression

Question 5

Describe the steps of differentiation

Answer 5

1) pluripotency
2) specialisation- relies on signals to acquire a fate i.e. engagement is not stable
3) determination
4) differentiation= induce gene expression
5) maturation= a second type of specialisation that occurs later e.g. fast/ slow muscle fibres

Question 6

How can you test if cells are determined to their fate or not?

Answer 6

transplant the cells into a different environment- are committed if they maintain their fate. If not they are only specialised

Question 7

How can growth occur and when?

Answer 7

It continuously occurs throughout development- embryonic, foetal, post natal, adult. It occurs by accration (ECM), cell growth and cell proliferation