MEDizzy - Individual blastomeres were isolated from a blastula at the

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WEEK 1 OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT (DAYS 1-7)

Individual blastomeres were isolated from a blastula at the 4-cell stage. Each blastomere was cultured in vitro to the blastocyst stage and individually implanted into four pseudopregnant foster mothers. Which of the following would you expect to observe 9 months later?

ExplanationThis scenario would result in four genetically identical children. Blastomeres at the 4-cell to 8-cell stage are totipotent, that is, capable of forming an entire embryo. Since blastomeres arise by mitosis of the same cell (zygote), they are genetically identical. This phenomenon is important in explaining monozygotic (identical) twins. About 30% of monozygotic twins arise by early separation of blastomeres. The remaining 70% originate at the end of week 1 of development by a splitting of the inner cell mass.