morphogenic
Causing structural development
Morphogenic means giving rise to form or structure.
The term appears in biology for processes that shape developing organisms—the signals and mechanisms that determine how cells differentiate and arrange themselves into tissues and organs: morphogenic factors, morphogenic fields.
In broader contexts, it describes anything that generates or influences form: the morphogenic power of language on thought.
Recognizing meaningful differences
- embryogenesisFormation of early life
- organogenesisEmbryonic tissue becoming structures
- gastrulationEmbryo forms primary layers
- ontogenyIndividual's developmental history
embryology · pluripotent · totipotent · mesoderm · ectoderm · endoderm · induction · segmentation
Rate of change across space
- symmetryInvariance under transformation
- axisRotation reference line
- polarityState of opposing forces
- segmentationDivision into sections
stripe · boundary · left-right · concentration · threshold · induction · competence · specification
Rapid increase in quantity
- migrationMovement to new territory
- apoptosisProgrammed cell death
- mitosisNuclear division producing identical cells
- cytokinesisCytoplasmic division after mitosis
cytoskeleton · adhesion · polarity · membrane · receptor · gradient · chemotaxis · fibroblast
Signal-receiving molecule
- ligandMolecule that binds centrally
- pathwayDesignated route for travel
- cascadeSuccessive downward flow
- transductionSignal or energy transformation
Growing back again
- transdifferentiationDirect cell type transformation
- axolotlPermanently larval salamander
- planarianRegenerative freshwater flatworm
- salamanderTailed, moist-skinned amphibian
hydra · reprogramming · scarless · neogenesis · restoration
differentiation
Recognizing meaningful differences
- embryogenesisFormation of early life
- organogenesisEmbryonic tissue becoming structures
- gastrulationEmbryo forms primary layers
ontogeny · embryology · pluripotent · totipotent · mesoderm · ectoderm · endoderm · induction · segmentation · primordium
gradient
Rate of change across space
segmentation · stripe · boundary · left-right · concentration · threshold · induction · competence · specification · compartment
proliferation
Rapid increase in quantity
- migrationMovement to new territory
- apoptosisProgrammed cell death
- mitosisNuclear division producing identical cells
cytokinesis · cytoskeleton · adhesion · polarity · membrane · receptor · gradient · chemotaxis · fibroblast · progenitor
receptor
Signal-receiving molecule
- ligandMolecule that binds centrally
- pathwayDesignated route for travel
- cascadeSuccessive downward flow
transduction · gradient · diffusion · threshold · inducer · inhibitor
regrowth
Growing back again
- transdifferentiationDirect cell type transformation
- axolotlPermanently larval salamander
- planarianRegenerative freshwater flatworm
salamander · hydra · reprogramming · scarless · neogenesis · restoration
morphogenicstatic
Without motion or change
amorphous · formless · degenerative · atrophic · unchanging