Totipotency and pluripotency, Biology

Assignment Help:

Totipotency and Pluripotency

In the starting we said that the fertilized egg cell (zygote) has the capacity or potentiality to give rise to all kinds of cell types, like a blood cell or a bone cell or a muscle cell etc. In embryological terminology such a cell is said to be totipotent. The zygote cleaves and makes a large number of blastomeres. The blastomeres may as well remain totipotent up to a certain stage and have the capacity to form every cell type of the organism. Though, as development proceeds the various blastomeres lose totipotency but may still be pluripotent. By pluripotent it is meant that they are able to make several but not all of the various cell types or tissues. Ultimately, with further development, even the pluripotency is lost and different groups of cells of the embryo are now capable of forming only one particular cell type or tissue.

For instance, up to a certain stage of embryonic development prospective ectodermal cells can make either epidermis or neural tissue, i.e. they are pluripotent. But at a later stage cells of one region of ectoderm can make only epidermal tissue and those of another region can distinguish only into neural tissue. What may be the cause of progressive restriction of potency in diverse embryonic cells although they are all descendents of the same single cell, zygote? Each one of these embryonic cells contains a nucleus which is also the descendent of similar zygotic nucleus. Does the restriction in potency in several embryonic cells result from differential distribution of specific cytoplasmic substances between different blastomeres during cleavage of zygote and subsequent divisions? We may ask a identical question with regards to the nucleus which contains the genes that direct the differentiation into specific tissues and cells types.


Related Discussions:- Totipotency and pluripotency

What are the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system, What are the tw...

What are the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system? The autonomic nervous system is separated into the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system

Ecology, what is the importance to study the tolerance range in real-life...

what is the importance to study the tolerance range in real-life situations?

Classification of living things, Ask question what is classification of liv...

Ask question what is classification of livibg thingsMinimum 100 words accepted#

Oncogene, Oncogene is the gene in a tumor virus or in the cancerous cells ...

Oncogene is the gene in a tumor virus or in the cancerous cells which, when transferred into the other cells, can cause the transformation (note which only certain cells are susce

How sugar is used in bakery application, How Sugar is used in Bakery Applic...

How Sugar is used in Bakery Application? In bakery applications, sugars are used to impart flavor, aroma and color. During the mixing process, excess gluten development can mak

Explain the role in insulin formation, Explain the Role in Insulin Formatio...

Explain the Role in Insulin Formation? You are aware that insulin receptors are present in many cells with their concentration being highest in adipocytes (cells present in adi

Microorganisms, what are the disadvantages of protozoa?

what are the disadvantages of protozoa?

Products that can be recycled, It requires the existence of a reliable mark...

It requires the existence of a reliable market for the recovered materials. Although the recovery of certain materials such as aluminium cans large plastic bottles can be profitabl

Transcription in eukaryotes, The Eukaryotic transcription is more difficult...

The Eukaryotic transcription is more difficult than prokaryotic transcription. For example, in eukaryotes the genetic material DNA and therefore transcription is basically localize

Explain about the salting - methods of food processing, Explain about the S...

Explain about the Salting - Methods of Food Processing? Salting: Salting, especially of meat, is an ancient preservation technique. Food is treated with salt or a strong salt s

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd