Abstract
We will start here by considering some features of the cellular structure of tissues and the connections between the cells there. All different cells of the body are developed from a single cell, the zygote, and all the information about the development has to be written in this cell. Although many details of the development are not completely understood, we can outline the basic mechanisms of the process, from cell differentiation to the shaping of organs of the body. An important role in the development and organism life in general is played by the so-called stem cells. Stem cells are only partially differentiated and during their division are capable of forming either differentiated cells of a particular group or the same stem cells. Division of completely differentiated cells can only give identical daughter cells. Stem cells open a unique opportunity for the replacement of damaged tissues in the body. We discuss this issue in some detail. For one or another reason, some cells of the body have to be eliminated. In a healthy organism, it occurs as programmed cell death, apoptosis, which we will discuss at the end of the chapter.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Vologodskii, A. (2023). Multicellular Organisms and Their Development. In: The Basics of Molecular Biology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-19404-7_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-19404-7_8
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-19403-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-19404-7
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)