The Stages of Embryonic Development in Animals |
1. | Compare the concepts of preformation and epigenesis. |
2. | List the two functions of fertilization. |
3. | Describe the acrosomal reaction and explain how it ensures that gametes are conspecific. |
4. | Describe the cortical reaction. |
5. | Explain how the fast and slow blocks to polyspermy function sequentially to prevent multiple sperm from fertilizing the egg. |
6. | Describe the changes that occur in an activated egg and explain the importance of cytoplasmic materials to egg activation. |
7. | Compare fertilization in a sea urchin and in a mammal. |
8. | Describe the general process of cleavage. |
9. | Explain the importance of embryo polarity during cleavage. Compare the characteristics of the animal hemisphere, vegetal hemisphere, and gray crescent in amphibian embryos. |
10. | Describe the formation of a blastula in sea urchin, amphibian, and bird embryos. Distinguish among meroblastic cleavage, holoblastic cleavage, and the formation of the blastoderm. |
11. | Describe the product of cleavage in an insect embryo. |
12. | Describe the process of gastrulation and explain its importance. Explain how this process rearranges the embryo. List adult structures derived from each of the primary germ layers. |
13. | Compare gastrulation in a sea urchin, a frog, and a chick. |
14. | Describe the formation of the notochord, neural tube, and somites in a frog. |
15. | Describe the significance and fate of neural crest cells. Explain why neural crest cells have been called a “fourth germ layer.” |
16. | List and explain the functions of the extraembryonic membranes in reptile eggs. |
17. | Describe the events of cleavage in a mammalian embryo. Explain the significance of the inner cell mass. |
18. | Explain the role of the trophoblast in implantation of a human embryo. |
19. | Explain the functions of the extraembryonic membranes in mammalian development. |
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| The Cellular and Molecular Basis of Morphogenesis and Differentiation in Animals |
20. | Describe the significance of changes in cell shape and cell position during embryonic development. Explain how these cellular processes occur. Describe the process of convergent extension. |
21. | Describe the role of the extracellular matrix in embryonic development. |
22. | Describe the locations and functions of cell adhesion molecules. |
23. | Describe the two general principles that integrate our knowledge of the genetic and cellular mechanisms underlying differentiation. |
24. | Describe the process of fate mapping and the significance of fate maps. |
25. | Describe the two important conclusions that have resulted from the experimental manipulation of parts of embryos and the use of fate maps. |
26. | Explain how the three body axes are established in early amphibian and chick development. |
27. | Explain the significance of SpemannÕs organizer in amphibian development. |
28. | Explain what is known about the molecular basis of induction. |
29. | Explain pattern formation in a developing chick limb, including the roles of the apical ectodermal ridge and the zone of polarizing activity. |
30. | Explain how a limb bud is directed to develop into either a forelimb or a hind limb. |