Gastrulation is a crucial stage in the development of all multicellular organisms, during which the embryonic cells rearrange and differentiate to form the three primary germ layers that will eventually give rise to all the body's organs and tissues. In this essay, we will explore the process of gastrulation in two model organisms: the frog and the chick.
In frogs, gastrulation begins around the third day of development, when the fertilized egg undergoes cleavage to form a hollow ball of cells called the blastula. During the next stage, known as blastulation, the blastula invaginates at one end to form a cup-like structure called the blastopore. This process is driven by the migration of cells known as involuting mesoderm, which move inward towards the center of the blastula.
As the involuting mesoderm cells reach the center of the blastula, they begin to differentiate into the three primary germ layers: the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. The ectoderm will give rise to the skin, nervous system, and sensory organs, while the mesoderm will form the muscles, bones, and circulatory system. The endoderm, meanwhile, will eventually become the lining of the gut and respiratory and urinary tracts.
In the chick, gastrulation begins slightly later, around the fourth day of development, and involves a process called epiboly. During epiboly, cells at the edge of the blastula begin to migrate over the top of the cells in the center, eventually enclosing them to form the primitive streak. The cells at the leading edge of the primitive streak then begin to differentiate into the three primary germ layers, in a process similar to that seen in frogs.
One key difference between the two processes is the way in which the germ layers are formed. In frogs, the involuting mesoderm cells move inward towards the center of the blastula, while in chicks, the germ layers are formed by cells at the edge of the blastula migrating over the top of the cells in the center. Despite this difference, the end result is the same: the formation of the three primary germ layers that will give rise to all the body's organs and tissues.
Overall, gastrulation is a complex and dynamic process that plays a crucial role in the development of all multicellular organisms. By studying the process in model organisms such as frogs and chicks, we can gain a better understanding of how the body's organs and tissues are formed and how development can go awry.