1. The document outlines the early stages of animal development from fertilization through gastrulation and organogenesis. It describes the formation of the blastula and gastrula, and the three germ layers that give rise to organs.
2. Morphogenesis and cell differentiation are discussed, involving changes in cell shape, position, and adhesion guided by the extracellular matrix and cell signaling molecules.
3. Fate mapping reveals how specific regions of early embryos develop into particular structures later. Cytoplasmic determinants in vertebrate eggs help establish axes and cell differences, influencing pattern formation through inductive signals that vary by location.