BLASTOMERES Meaning and
Definition
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Blastomeres are specialized cells that make up the early embryo during the process of cleavage. Cleavage is the rapid division of a fertilized egg, or zygote, into smaller cells known as blastomeres. These blastomeres are formed through a series of mitotic divisions, where the DNA content is divided equally among the cells.
Blastomeres play a crucial role in the development of multicellular organisms. As the fertilized egg undergoes cleavage, these cells become increasingly specialized and lay the foundation for the formation of different tissues and organs. During this process, blastomeres not only divide but also differentiate, meaning that they assume different roles and develop distinct characteristics.
In humans and many animals, the early-stage embryo is at the blastocyst stage, with the blastomeres forming a hollow ball-like structure called the blastocyst. Within the blastocyst, there are two types of blastomeres: the outer layer, known as the trophoblast, and the inner cell mass. The trophoblast eventually differentiates into the placenta, while the inner cell mass gives rise to the embryo itself.
The study of blastomeres is of significant interest in developmental biology and reproductive medicine, as abnormalities or irregularities in their division or differentiation can lead to developmental disorders or infertility. Scientists often rely on techniques such as pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) to analyze blastomeres for any genetic abnormalities before the embryo is transferred during assisted reproductive techniques like in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Common Misspellings for BLASTOMERES
- blastomers
- blastomerse
- blastomeer
- vlastomeres
- nlastomeres
- hlastomeres
- glastomeres
- bkastomeres
- bpastomeres
- boastomeres
- blzstomeres
- blsstomeres
- blwstomeres
- blqstomeres
- blaatomeres
- blaztomeres
- blaxtomeres
- bladtomeres
- blaetomeres
- blawtomeres
Etymology of BLASTOMERES
The word "blastomeres" is derived from two Greek roots: "blastos", meaning "germ" or "embryo", and "meros", meaning "part" or "segment". In embryology, blastomeres refer to the individual cells that arise during the cleavage or division of a fertilized egg known as a zygote. These cells continue to divide and ultimately form the embryo. The term "blastomeres" was first coined by the German embryologist Ernst Haeckel in the mid-19th century.
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