At which point in development do we start to observe a significant inc...
During blastulation
- Blastulation is the process that occurs during the early stages of embryonic development, specifically after fertilization.
- During blastulation, the zygote undergoes several rapid cell divisions, resulting in the formation of a hollow ball of cells called the blastula.
- The blastula consists of an outer layer of cells called the trophoblast and an inner cell mass called the embryoblast.
- The trophoblast will eventually give rise to the placenta, while the embryoblast will develop into the embryo itself.
- As blastulation progresses, the size of the embryo increases significantly due to the rapid cell division and the accumulation of cells within the blastula.
- This increase in size is primarily due to the proliferation of cells within the embryoblast.
Why not the other options?
- During organogenesis (option B), the embryo undergoes the process of organ formation, but this occurs after blastulation. Therefore, it is not the point at which a significant increase in embryo size is observed.
- Fertilization (option C) is the fusion of sperm and egg to form a zygote, which is the first step in embryonic development. However, the embryo is not formed at this point, so there is no significant increase in size.
- Early cleavage (option D) is the division of the zygote into smaller cells through mitosis. While this process is essential for the development of the embryo, it does not result in a significant increase in size. The cells produced during early cleavage are still relatively small and compact.
In summary, the significant increase in the size of the embryo is observed during blastulation, specifically as the blastula forms and the cells within the embryoblast proliferate.