Sinh học - Chapter 21: The genetic basis of development

Apical meristems, perpetually embryonic regions in the tips of shoots and roots, are responsible for the plant’s continual growth and formation of new organs, such as leaves and roots. In animals, ongoing development in adults is restricted to the differentiation of cells, such as blood cells, that must be continually replenished. The importance of precise regulation of morphogenesis is evident in human disorders that result from morphogenesis gone awry. For example, cleft palate, in which the upper wall of the mouth cavity fails to close completely, is a defect of morphogenesis.