Lecture 16: Eukaryotic Gene Expression & Embryonic Development

Flashcards related to Eukaryotic Gene Expression & Embryonic Development.

Development

The process in which a multicellular organism undergoes a series of progressive changes that characterizes its life cycle (from embryo to adult).

Zygote

A fertilized egg.

Differentiation

Turning genes on or off in different cells, giving them different functions.

Determination

The process that requires a stem cell to follow a particular developmental lineage.

Cell Fate

The process that drives an unspecialized embryonic cell into a particular path of development or 'fate' for what the cell will ultimately become.

Cytoplasmic Segregation

Unequal cytokinesis contributing to cell determination.

Maternal Effect Genes

Female distributes mRNA and proteins into eggs that regulate cell division and development of a newly formed zygote.

Induction

Cell-to-cell communication influencing cell determination.

Tissue Specific Transcription Factors

Interact with the RNA polymerase enzyme to enhance its copying ability

Enhancers

Unique promoter elements where tissue specific transcription factors bind onto.

Histone Acetyltransferase (HAT)

Enzymes that cover positively charged tails of histones with acetyl groups.

Histone Methyl Transferase (HMT)

Enzyme that methylates histone tails.

Cell Potency

The potential of a cell to differentiate into other cell types.

Totipotent

Can differentiate into any cell type in the embryo (only cells from the zygote → early cleavage are totipotent).

Pluripotent

Can develop into most cell types, but cannot form new embryos (cannot produce the placenta, extraembryonic membranes).

Multipotent

Can differentiate into several related cell types (ex. bone marrow can make all the different blood cells).

Unipotent

Can produce only one cell type (ex. epidermal stem cells can only produce skin cells).

Ectoderm

One of the three embryonic germ layers.

Mesoderm

One of the three embryonic germ layers.

Endoderm

One of the three embryonic germ layers.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death that allows the body to eliminate damaged or unwanted cells.

Morphogens

Activation of zygotic genes controls the development of structures like arms and legs..

Embryogenesis

The process by which a single fertilized egg develops into an embryo (fetus).

Teratogens

Chemicals or other agents that cause birth defects.

iPSC

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells – Induce adult cells to 'revert' back into pluripotent cells by injecting genes and promoters used by embryonic cells