holoblastic
(adjective)
cleaving, and separating into separate blastomeres
Examples of holoblastic in the following topics:
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Cleavage of the Zygote
- Depending mostly on the amount of yolk in the egg, the cleavage can be holoblastic (total) or meroblastic (partial).
- Holoblastic cleavage occurs in animals with little yolk in their eggs.
- In holoblastic eggs, the first cleavage always occurs along the vegetal-animal axis of the egg, and the second cleavage is perpendicular to the first.
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Cleavage, the Blastula Stage, and Gastrulation
- Cleavage can take place in two ways: holoblastic (total) cleavage or meroblastic (partial) cleavage.
- In placental mammals (including humans) where nourishment is provided by the mother's body, the eggs have a very small amount of yolk and undergo holoblastic cleavage.