Ap Bio Ch21 Vocab

Front 1

Differentiation

Back 1

The structural and functional divergence of cells as they become specialized during a multicellular organsim's development; dependent on the control of gene expression.

Front 2

Maternal Effect Genes

Back 2

A gene that, when mutant in the mother, results in a mutant phenotype in the offspring, regardless of the genotype.

Front 3

Homeotic Genes

Back 3

Any of the genes that control the overall body plan of animals and plants by controlling the developmental fate of groups of cells.

Front 4

Morphogenesis

Back 4

The development of body shape and organization.

Front 5

Morphogens

Back 5

A substance, such as Bicoid protein, that provides positional information in the form of a concentration gradient along an embryonic axis.

Front 6

Apoptosis

Back 6

The changes that occur within a cell as it undergoes programmed cell death.

Front 7

Apical Meristems

Back 7

Embryonic plant tissue in the tips of roots and in the buds of shoots that supplies cells for the plant to grow in length.

Front 8

Segmentation Genes

Back 8

A gene of the embryo that directs the actual formation of segments after the embryo's axes are defined.

Front 9

Totipotent

Back 9

Describing a cell that can give rise to all parts of an organism.

Front 10

Pair-Rule Genes

Back 10

Genes that cause the loss of the normal developmental pattern in alternating segments in insects.

Front 11

Induction

Back 11

The ability of one group of embryonic cells to influence the development of another.

Front 12

Gap Genes

Back 12

Genes that cause the loss of contiguous body segments, resembling a gap in the normal body plan of some arthropods.