A hollow ball of cells formed by cleavage, containing a fluid-filled cavity.
In mammals, the blastocyst has an outer trophoblast (forms placenta) and an inner cell mass (forms embryo) around a blastocoel. The blastocyst implants around day 6 to 7.
Blastocoel formation depends on fluid pumped by trophoblast cells. Inner cell mass cells are pluripotent. Hatching from the zona pellucida precedes implantation.
Example: IVF embryos are often transferred at blastocyst stage.
A hollow ball of cells formed by cleavage, containing a fluid-filled cavity.
Blastula is one of the 54 topics in Developmental Biology. It is rated Beginner, so it suits learners who are starting out in biology. Related topics in this area include Totipotency, Embryo, Embryonic Stem Cells.
Embryonic stem cells are derived from the inner cell mass.
Blastula is a Beginner topic, so no earlier topic is required. Other Beginner topics in Developmental Biology that pair well with it include Fertilisation, Zygote, Embryo.
The closest topics to Blastula are Totipotency, Embryo, Embryonic Stem Cells, Pluripotency. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Blastula. To practise the whole of Developmental Biology, use the Developmental Biology quiz.
Blastula: A hollow ball of cells formed by cleavage, containing a fluid-filled cavity. Totipotency: The ability of a cell to give rise to all cell types, including embryonic and extraembryonic tissue. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Totipotency and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Developmental Biology quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.
The ability of a cell to give rise to all cell types, including embryonic and extraembryonic tissue.
🥚 Developmental BiologyThe early developmental stage of an organism produced by division of the zygote.
🥚 Developmental BiologyPluripotent cells from the blastocyst inner cell mass that can be grown and directed in culture.
🥚 Developmental BiologyCapacity to form all body cell types, as in embryonic stem cells, but not a whole organism.
🥚 Developmental Biology