Developmental Biology — Winter 2025

Define Specification and Determination in the context of cell fate.

List and briefly describe the three germ layers formed during animal development.

Evaluate the role of Genomic Equivalence and Cytoplasmic Determinants in early development.

Name the four major concepts involved in the process of Induction.

Differentiate between Cleavage and Gastrulation in animal embryogenesis.

Describe the process of Double Fertilization in plants and state its products.

Analyze the molecular and cellular events of sperm-egg recognition in animals.

What is a Floral Meristem? State its primary function.

Explain the concept of Developmental Mutants and their significance in developmental biology.

Describe the process of Limb Organogenesis in vertebrates.

Define Imprinting in the context of development.

Analyze the steps and key regulatory events of Sex determination in humans.

Apply the concept of Morphogenetic gradients to explain the pattern formation along the anterior-posterior axis in Drosophila.

Give two examples of Post Embryonic Development in animals.

Briefly explain the Organization of the Shoot Apical Meristem (SAM) in plants.

Evaluate the critical role of Cell Communication (signaling) in promoting the development of a multicellular organism.

Describe Cell Aggregation and Differentiation in the slime mold Dictyostelium. Page 1 of

List the key stages of Embryo sac development in plants.

Explain the difference between Stem cells and committed cells.

Analyze the process of leaf development and the establishment of phyllotaxy in plants.

Define Senescence and Aging in a biological context.

Evaluate the significance of Programmed Cell Death (PCD) in normal development and organogenesis.

What is the difference between a Stem Cell and a Differentiated Cell?

Explain how the external environment can influence the normal developmental process.

Evaluate the conservation of molecular and cellular principles across different species in developmental biology. Page 2 of