Determinate cleavage

Definition

Determinate cleavage is a type of embryonic development in which the fate of each cell is determined early. This typically results in the production of cells with specific, predetermined functions.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Determinate cleavage is often found in protostomes, such as arthropods and mollusks.
2. In determinate cleavage, removing one cell from an early-stage embryo can result in incomplete development.
3. This type of cleavage usually follows a spiral pattern during cell division.
4. The opposite of determinate cleavage is indeterminate cleavage, where each cell retains the potential to develop into a complete organism.
5. Determinate cleavage ensures specialized cells are formed early, which contributes to the efficient development of complex structures.

Review Questions

Related terms

Protostomes:

A group of animals characterized by determinate and spiral cleavage during embryonic development.

Spiral Cleavage: A form of embryonic development where cells divide at oblique angles, resulting in a spiral pattern.

Indeterminate Cleavage: A form of embryonic development where each cell retains the potential to develop into a complete organism, common in deuterostomes.