BIOL 316 developmental biology : Exam 1

What does the Epiblast turn into?

the ectoderm which splints into skin (epiderm) and Nervous system

Specification

at late blastula stage, some cells already have enough information to become the correct cell type.
- could change based on environment

Determined

its fate cannot be influenced by other cells. Irreversibly committed to becoming the correct type which is followed by autonomous specification

autonomous specification

the cell has enough information to become the correct cell type without receiving any signals from neighboring cells.

no other input on its own. if not determined it can change to something else

cytoplasmic determinants

during egg formation, mRNA or proteins are concentrated in specific intercellular locations

asymmetric cell division

determinants segregate into just one daughter cell

Differentiation

cell stops dividing and begins expressing cell type specific genes
(irreversible - exceptions: educed stem cells in the lab)

Conditional specification

flexibly specified with modifications from external signals. (environment)