EPIMORPHOSIS Meaning and
Definition
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Epimorphosis is a biological process that refers to the regeneration or regrowth of a lost or damaged body part in an organism. It is a specific type of regeneration that involves the growth and development of new tissues to replace the lost or damaged ones. The term "epimorphosis" is derived from Greek, where "epi" means "upon" or "over," and "morphosis" means "formation" or "growth."
In epimorphosis, the regrowth occurs through the dedifferentiation of existing cells near the site of injury, followed by their redifferentiation into the specific cell types needed for the regeneration process. This process is often associated with animals like salamanders or lizards that can regenerate limbs or tails.
Epimorphosis differs from another type of regeneration called "morphallaxis," where existing tissues reorganize and remodel to form the missing or damaged body part without significant cell proliferation.
This regenerative ability of epimorphosis is facilitated by the presence of stem cells or pluripotent cells within the organism, which have the potential to differentiate into various specialized cell types. The regenerative process is often controlled by various signaling pathways and growth factors that guide the reformation of the lost or damaged structure.
In summary, epimorphosis is a form of regeneration in which new tissues are formed to replace lost or damaged body parts. It involves the dedifferentiation and redifferentiation of cells near the injury site and is a fascinating natural phenomenon observed in certain animal species.
Common Misspellings for EPIMORPHOSIS
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Etymology of EPIMORPHOSIS
The word "epimorphosis" is derived from the Ancient Greek ἐπιμόρφωσις (epimórhōsis), which is a combination of the prefix ἐπί (epí), meaning "upon" or "on", and the noun μορφή (morphḗ), meaning "form" or "shape". Thus, the literal meaning of "epimorphosis" is "upon form" or "upon shape".
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