blastema

/blæs'ti:mə/

Thân thiện

A biologist examines a blastema under a microscope.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A mass of undifferentiated cells from which an organ or body part develops: In biology, a blastema is a cluster of cells that have not yet specialized into a specific type. This mass serves as the foundational material for the growth and regeneration of tissues, organs, or limbs in certain animals and plants.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • After the salamander's limb was amputated, a blastema formed at the site, eventually regenerating the entire leg.
  • The study focused on the molecular signals that control blastema formation in planarian worms.
  • In plant biology, a callus can act as a blastema, giving rise to new shoots and roots.

Advanced Usage

• "Blastema formation": The process by which a blastema is created, typically following injury or during certain stages of development.
  • The key to limb regeneration in axolotls is the rapid initiation of blastema formation.
• "Blastemal cells": Referring specifically to the individual undifferentiated cells that constitute a blastema.
  • Researchers are investigating the potential of blastemal cells for regenerative medicine.

Variants and Related Words

• Blastemal (adj): Pertaining to or of the nature of a blastema.
  • The blastemal tissue showed high potential for growth.
• Blastemic (adj): Another adjective form relating to a blastema.

Synonyms

• Primordium: An organ, tissue, or cell in its earliest stage of development.
• Anlage: A German-derived term used in embryology for the initial clustering of cells that will form a future organ or part.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a mass of undifferentiated cells from which an organ or body part develops