Developmental biology

Morphogenesis (from the Greek morphê shape and genesis creation, literally, "beginning of the shape") is the biological process that causes an organism to develop its shape.

The pharyngeal arches are structures seen in the development of vertebrates, are recognisable precursors for numerous structures.

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), also known by , is a protein that in humans is encoded by the AMH gene.

In biology, a blastomere is a type of cell produced by cleavage (cell division) of the zygote after fertilization and is an essential part of blastula formation.

The blastula (from Greek βλαστός (blastos), meaning "sprout") is a hollow sphere of cells, referred to as blastomeres, surrounding an inner fluid-filled cavity called the blastocoele formed during an early stage of embryonic development in animals.

A monster is any creature, usually found in legends or horror fiction, that is often hideous and may produce fear or physical harm by its appearance or its actions.

Parthenogenesis (/ˌpɑːrθᵻnoʊˈdʒɛnᵻsᵻs, -θᵻnə-/; from the Greek παρθένος parthenos, "virgin", + γένεσις genesis, "creation") is a natural form of asexual reproduction in which growth and development of embryos occur without fertilization.

In the anatomy of the brain of vertebrates, the forebrain or prosencephalon is the rostral-most (forward-most) portion of the brain.

A blastocoel is a fluid-filled cavity that forms in the animal hemisphere of early amphibian and echinoderm embryos, or between the epiblast and hypoblast of avian, reptilian, and mammalian blastoderm-stage embryos.

The amniotic fluid, commonly called a pregnant woman's water or waters (Latin liquor amnii), is the protective liquid contained by the amniotic sac of a pregnant female.

Ectoderm is one of the three primary germ layers in the very early embryo.

Endoderm is one of the three primary germ layers in the very early human embryo.

A germ layer is a primary layer of cells that form during embryogenesis.

In biology, mating (or mateing in British English) is the pairing of opposite-sex or hermaphroditic organisms, usually for the purposes of sexual reproduction.

Menarche (/mᵻˈnɑːrkiː/ mə-NAR-kee; Greek: μήν mēn "month" + ἀρχή arkhē "beginning") is the first menstrual cycle, or first menstrual bleeding, in female humans.

The placenta (also known as afterbirth) is an organ that connects the developing fetus to the uterine wall to allow nutrient uptake, provide thermo-regulation to the fetus, waste elimination, and gas exchange via the mother's blood supply, fight against internal infection and produce hormones to support pregnancy.

In placental mammals, the umbilical cord (also called the navel string, birth cord or funiculus umbilicalis) is a conduit between the developing embryo or fetus and the placenta.

In early embryogenesis of most eutherian mammals, the inner cell mass (abbreviated ICM and also known as the embryoblast in mammals or pluriblast) is the mass of cells inside the primordial embryo that, once fertilized, will eventually give rise to the definitive structures of the fetus.

A zygote (from Greek ζυγωτός zygōtos "joined" or "yoked", from ζυγοῦν zygoun "to join" or "to yoke"), is a eukaryotic cell formed by a fertilization event between two gametes.

In developmental biology, cellular differentiation is the process where a cell changes from one cell type to another.

The diencephalon is part of the prosencephalon (forebrain), which develops from the foremost primary cerebral vesicle.

In human development, a fetus or foetus (/ˈfiːtəs/; plural fetuses or foetuses) is a prenatal human between the embryonic state and birth.

A homeobox is a DNA sequence, around 180 base pairs long, found within genes that are involved in the regulation of patterns of anatomical development (morphogenesis) in animals, fungi and plants.

Sexual reproduction is a form of reproduction where two morphologically distinct types of specialized reproductive cells called gametes fuse together, involving a female's large ovum (or egg) and a male's smaller sperm.

Spermatogenesis is the process in which spermatozoa are produced from spermatogonial stem cells by way of mitosis and meiosis.

A tadpole (also called a pollywog) is the larval stage in the life cycle of an amphibian, particularly that of a frog or toad.

A morula (Latin, morus: mulberry) is an early stage embryo consisting of cells (called blastomeres) in a solid ball contained within the zona pellucida.

Drosophila embryogenesis, the process by which Drosophila (fruit fly) embryos form, is a favorite model system for genetics and developmental biology.

Mesenchyme is a type of tissue characterized by loosely associated cells that lack polarity and are surrounded by a large extracellular matrix.

The metencephalon is the embryonic part of the hindbrain that differentiates into the pons and the cerebellum.

In biology, moulting (British English), or molting (American English), also known as sloughing, shedding, or in many invertebrates, ecdysis, is the manner in which an animal routinely casts off a part of its body (often, but not always, an outer layer or covering), either at specific times of the year, or at specific points in its life cycle.

Oogenesis, ovogenesis, or oögenesis /ˌoʊ.

In developmental biology, photomorphogenesis is light-mediated development, where plant growth patterns respond to the light spectrum.

Birth, also known as parturition, is the act or process of bearing or bringing forth offspring.

The chorioallantoic membrane — also called the chorioallantois or abbreviated to CAM — is a vascular membrane found in eggs of some amniotes, such as birds and reptiles.

Bone resorption is resorption of bone tissue, that is, the process by which osteoclasts break down the tissue in bones and release the minerals, resulting in a transfer of calcium from bone tissue to the blood.

Pigeon toe (also known as metatarsus varus, metatarsus adductus, in-toe gait, intoeing or false clubfoot) is a condition which causes the toes to point inward when walking.

The chondrocranium (or cartilaginous neurocranium) is the primitive cartilaginous skeletal structure of the fetal skull that grows to envelop the rapidly growing embryonic brain.

Hypermorphosis is a biological phenomenon related to the development time and rate of an organism.

Endochondral ossification is one of the two essential processes during fetal development of the mammalian skeletal system by which bone tissue is created.

The primitive pit is a depression in the center of the primitive knot, connecting to the notochord.

The laryngotracheal groove is a precursor for the larynx and trachea.

A pharyngeal groove (or branchial groove, or pharyngeal cleft) is made up of ectoderm unlike its counterpart the pharyngeal pouch on the endodermal side.

In the embryonic development of vertebrates, pharyngeal pouches form on the endodermal side between the pharyngeal arches.

In human development, the cotyledons are the approximately 15-25 separations of the decidua basalis of the placenta, separated by placental septa.

The septum transversum is a thick mass of cranial mesenchyme, formed in the embryo, that gives rise to parts of the thoracic diaphragm and the ventral mesentery of the foregut in the developed human being.

Sinus tubercle (also known as sinual tubercle or Müllerian eminence) is the proliferation of endoderm induced by the paramesonephric ducts.

The surface ectoderm (or external ectoderm) forms the following structures: * Skin (only epidermis; dermis is derived from mesoderm) (along with glands, hair, and nails) * Epithelium of the mouth and nasal cavity salivary glands, and glands of mouth and nasal cavity * Tooth enamel (as a side note, dentin and dental pulp are formed from ectomesenchyme which is derived from ectoderm (specifically neural crest cells and travels with mesenchmyal cells) * Epithelium of anterior pituitary * Lens, cornea, lacrimal gland, tarsal glands and the conjunctiva of the eye * Apical ectodermal ridge inducing development of the limb buds of the embryo. * Sensory receptors in epidermis

A hair whorl is a patch of hair growing in the opposite direction of the rest of the hair.

The primitive knot (or primitive node) is the organizer for gastrulation in vertebrates.

Trophoblasts (from Greek trephein: to feed, and blastos: germinator) are cells forming the outer layer of a blastocyst, which provide nutrients to the embryo and develop into a large part of the placenta.

Chordin is a bone morphogenetic protein antagonist composed of four small cysteine-rich domains, whose function is not known.

Before the fertilized ovum reaches the uterus, the mucous membrane of the body of the uterus undergoes important changes and is then known as the decidua.

A body cavity is any fluid-filled space in a multicellular organism other than those of vessels (such as blood vessels and lymph vessels).

The myelencephalon or afterbrain is the most posterior region of the embryonic hindbrain, from which the medulla oblongata develops.

The testes, at an early period of fetal life, are placed at the back part of the abdominal cavity, behind the peritoneum, and each is attached by a peritoneal fold, the mesorchium, to the mesonephros.

Repulsive Guidance Molecules (RGMs) are members of a three gene family (in vertebrates) composed of RGMa, RGMb, and RGMc (also called hemojuvelin).

Through studies of human embryos performed in the late 1890s, Swiss anatomist Wilhelm His identified a portion of hindbrain neuroepithelium that was distinct from the rest of the hindbrain neuroepithelium in its morphology, sustained chromosomal division into late stages of embryogenesis, and deployment of streams of neurons through the hindbrain periphery.

The study of the causes of transsexuality investigates gender identity formation of transgender people, especially those who are transsexual.

Segmentation in biology refers to the division of some animal and plant body plans into a series of repetitive segments.

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are a group of conditions in which an opening in the spinal cord or brain remains from early in human development.

The nasal placode (or olfactory placode) gives rise to the olfactory epithelium of the nose.

1q21.1 deletion syndrome or 1q21.

The cortical reaction is a process initiated during fertilization by the release of cortical granules from the egg which prevents polyspermy, the fusion of multiple sperm with one egg.

Limb development in tetrapods — animals with four limbs — is an area of active research in developmental biology.

Foetal cerebral redistribution or 'brain-sparing' is a diagnosis in foetal medicine.