Cleavage in sea urchins

· What type of cleavage do sea urchin embryos

exhibit?

· A) Holoblastic radial cleavage

B) Meroblastic discoidal cleavage

C) Superficial cleavage

D) Rotational cleavage

Answer: A) Holoblastic radial cleavage

· In sea urchins, the first cleavage division results in

how many blastomeres?

· A) 1

B) 2

C) 4

D) 8

Answer: B) 2

· What is the result of the second cleavage division

in sea urchin embryos?

· A) 4 equal blastomeres

B) 8 equal blastomeres

C) 16 equal blastomeres

D) Unequal blastomeres

Answer: A) 4 equal blastomeres

· The third cleavage in sea urchins is described as:

· A) Equatorial

B) Meridional

C) Horizontal

D) Longitudinal

Answer: A) Equatorial

· During the fourth cleavage in sea urchin

development, how are the micromeres formed?

· A) Through equal division of macromeres

B) Through unequal division at the vegetal pole

C) Through superficial cleavage

D) Through rotational cleavage

Answer: B) Through unequal division at the vegetal pole

· Sea urchin micromeres are important because

they:

· A) Contribute to the ectoderm

B) Initiate gastrulation

C) Form the archenteron

D) Develop into larval skeleton

Answer: D) Develop into larval skeleton

· Which of the following is true about the vegetal

pole during sea urchin cleavage?

· A) It is where the blastocoel forms

B) It gives rise to micromeres

C) It remains inactive during cleavage

D) It contributes to the animal pole

Answer: B) It gives rise to micromeres

· What role do the large micromeres play in sea

urchin development?

· A) Induce primary mesenchyme formation

B) Contribute to the ectoderm

C) Form the archenteron

D) Generate the blastocoel

Answer: A) Induce primary mesenchyme formation

· The blastula stage in sea urchins is characterized

by:

· A) Formation of the archenteron

B) Presence of a hollow blastocoel

C) Differentiation into three germ layers

D) Completion of organogenesis

Answer: B) Presence of a hollow blastocoel

· What is the primary function of the primary

mesenchyme cells in sea urchin embryos?

· A) Formation of the ectoderm

B) Formation of the endoderm

C) Synthesis of the larval skeleton

D) Development of the nervous system

Answer: C) Synthesis of the larval skeleton

· Which cell signaling molecule is crucial for the
specification of micromeres in sea urchins?

· A) Sonic Hedgehog

B) Wnt8

C) Nodal

D) BMP4

Answer: B) Wnt8

· What marks the transition from cleavage to

gastrulation in sea urchin embryos?

· A) Formation of micromeres

B) Blastula hatching

C) Onset of mesoderm formation

D) Invagination of the vegetal plate

Answer: D) Invagination of the vegetal plate

· Which of the following structures is formed from

the invagination of the vegetal plate in sea urchins?

· A) Blastocoel

B) Archenteron

C) Neural tube

D) Somites

Answer: B) Archenteron

· The animal pole of the sea urchin embryo

primarily contributes to which germ layer?
· A) Ectoderm

B) Mesoderm

C) Endoderm

D) None of the above

Answer: A) Ectoderm

· In sea urchins, which structure eventually

becomes the anus of the larva?

· A) Blastopore

B) Archenteron

C) Coelom

D) Blastocoel

Answer: A) Blastopore

· What is the significance of the animal-vegetal axis

in sea urchin development?

· A) Determines the future anterior-posterior axis

B) Establishes left-right symmetry

C) Segregates the germ layers

D) Dictates the pattern of cleavage

Answer: D) Dictates the pattern of cleavage

· During sea urchin cleavage, what is the primary

determinant of cell fate?

· A) Position within the embryo

B) Inheritance of specific cytoplasmic factors

C) Intercellular signaling

D) All of the above

Answer: D) All of the above

· Which stage of sea urchin development follows the

blastula stage?

· A) Gastrula

B) Morula

C) Neurula

D) Trochophore

Answer: A) Gastrula

· Which germ layer gives rise to the primary

mesenchyme cells in sea urchins?

· A) Ectoderm

B) Mesoderm

C) Endoderm

D) They are derived independently

Answer: B) Mesoderm

· The process by which the sea urchin blastula

hatches from the fertilization envelope is called:

· A) Invagination

B) Ingression

C) Blastulation

D) Eclosion
Answer: D) Eclosion

· What is the primary function of blastomeres in sea urchin development?

· A) Gamete production

B) Nutrient storage

C) Formation of the embryo

D) Signal transmission

Answer: C) Formation of the embryo

· In sea urchin development, what is the first cleavage division?

· A) Meridional

B) Equatorial

C) Oblique

D) Radial

Answer: A) Meridional

· How many blastomeres are formed after the third cleavage in sea urchins?

· A) 4

B) 8

C) 16

D) 32

Answer: B) 8

· What is the fate of micromeres in sea urchin embryos?

· A) Forming the larval skeleton

B) Forming the ectoderm

C) Forming the endoderm

D) Forming the mesoderm

Answer: A) Forming the larval skeleton

· Which blastomeres are essential for the proper specification of the sea
urchin's vegetal pole?

· A) Macromeres

B) Mesomeres

C) Micromeres

D) Megameres

Answer: C) Micromeres

· What type of cleavage pattern do sea urchins exhibit?

· A) Discoidal

B) Spiral

C) Radial

D) Bilateral

Answer: C) Radial

· At the 16-cell stage, how many micromeres are present in a sea urchin
embryo?

· A) 2

B) 4

C) 6

D) 8

Answer: B) 4

· Which signaling pathway is crucial for micromere specification in sea

urchins?

· A) Notch

B) Hedgehog

C) Wnt

D) BMP

Answer: C) Wnt
· What structure do the large micromeres eventually form in sea urchins?

· A) Endoderm

B) Ectoderm

C) Neural tube

D) Primary mesenchyme

Answer: D) Primary mesenchyme

· Which cells are the first to ingress during gastrulation in sea urchins?

· A) Mesomeres

B) Macromeres

C) Micromeres

D) Blastocoel cells

Answer: C) Micromeres

· During cleavage, what is the role of the vegetal plate in sea urchins?

· A) It forms the animal pole

B) It initiates gastrulation

C) It becomes the ectoderm

D) It secretes digestive enzymes

Answer: B) It initiates gastrulation

· How is the dorsal-ventral axis established in sea urchin embryos?

· A) By the first cleavage division

B) By the position of the micromeres

C) By the animal-vegetal axis

D) By maternal mRNA localization

Answer: C) By the animal-vegetal axis

· Which of the following correctly describes the distribution of maternal

determinants in sea urchin eggs?
· A) Uniformly distributed

B) Concentrated at the animal pole

C) Concentrated at the vegetal pole

D) Randomly distributed

Answer: C) Concentrated at the vegetal pole

· What developmental process is triggered by the interaction of micromeres

with the overlying cells in sea urchins?

· A) Neural induction

B) Mesoderm induction

C) Endoderm induction

D) Ectoderm induction

Answer: B) Mesoderm induction

· Which type of blastomere movement is primarily responsible for the initial

stages of sea urchin gastrulation?

· A) Invagination

B) Epiboly

C) Ingression

D) Convergent extension

Answer: C) Ingression

· What role do secondary mesenchyme cells play in sea urchin development?

· A) Forming the endoderm

B) Guiding the archenteron elongation

C) Forming the ectoderm

D) Inducing neural differentiation

Answer: B) Guiding the archenteron elongation

· What is the outcome if micromeres are removed from a sea urchin embryo?

· A) Normal development
B) Lack of vegetal pole structures

C) Formation of two vegetal poles

D) Overproliferation of ectoderm

Answer: B) Lack of vegetal pole structures

· Which cell fate does β-catenin signaling primarily influence in sea urchin
blastomeres?

· A) Ectoderm

B) Endoderm

C) Mesoderm

D) Neural tissue

Answer: B) Endoderm

· What is the primary function of the blastocoel in early sea urchin embryos?

· A) Nutrient storage

B) Waste removal

C) Structural support

D) Facilitating cell movement during gastrulation

Answer: D) Facilitating cell movement during gastrulation

· Which experimental technique can be used to trace the lineage of specific

blastomeres in sea urchins?

· A) Electroporation

B) Fluorescent dye injection

C) RNA interference

D) CRISPR-Cas9

Answer: B) Fluorescent dye injection

Fate and Determination of Sea Urchin Blastomeres

What is the main role of blastomeres in sea urchin development?

a) To provide structural support

b) To differentiate into various cell types

c) To produce gametes

d) To supply nutrients

Answer: b) To differentiate into various cell types

At which stage is the fate of sea urchin blastomeres typically determined?

a) Before fertilization

b) At the 4-cell stage

c) At the 16-cell stage

d) During larval development

Answer: b) At the 4-cell stage

What experimental technique is often used to study the fate of sea urchin
blastomeres?

a) RNA sequencing

b) Lineage tracing

c) CRISPR-Cas9

d) Electroporation

Answer: b) Lineage tracing

Which cell lineage in sea urchins contributes to the formation of the endoderm?

a) Micromeres
b) Macromeres

c) Mesomeres

d) Blastocoel cells

Answer: b) Macromeres

Which signaling molecule is crucial for the specification of micromeres in sea

urchin embryos?

a) BMP

b) Wnt

c) Notch

d) FGF

Answer: b) Wnt

What is the role of micromeres in the sea urchin embryo?

a) Form the skeleton

b) Develop into the nervous system

c) Generate muscle tissue

d) Produce digestive enzymes

Answer: a) Form the skeleton

How do micromeres influence surrounding cells in sea urchin embryos?

a) By secreting inhibitors

b) By mechanical pressure

c) Through inductive signals

d) Via gap junctions

Answer: c) Through inductive signals

What happens if micromeres are removed from the sea urchin embryo?

a) The embryo develops normally

b) The embryo lacks a skeleton

c) The embryo fails to gastrulate

d) The embryo forms extra micromeres

Answer: b) The embryo lacks a skeleton

Which type of cell division leads to the formation of micromeres in sea urchins?

a) Equal cleavage

b) Unequal cleavage

c) Binary fission

d) Budding

Answer: b) Unequal cleavage

What characteristic is used to identify micromeres in the sea urchin embryo?

a) Large size

b) High yolk content

c) Small size

d) Dark pigmentation

Answer: c) Small size

Which type of cleavage pattern do sea urchin embryos exhibit?

a) Radial

b) Spiral

c) Bilateral

d) Rotational

Answer: a) Radial

Which transcription factor is important for micromere specification?

a) Sox2

b) Oct4

c) Brachyury

d) β-catenin

Answer: d) β-catenin

What is the fate of the vegetal pole cells in sea urchin embryos?

a) Ectoderm

b) Mesoderm

c) Endoderm and mesoderm

d) Neural tissue

Answer: c) Endoderm and mesoderm

Which cells are responsible for secreting the extracellular matrix components
during sea urchin development?
a) Mesomeres

b) Micromeres

c) Macromeres

d) Blastocoel cells

Answer: b) Micromeres

How is cell fate typically determined in sea urchin embryos?

a) Autonomous specification

b) Conditional specification

c) Syncytial specification

d) Regulative development

Answer: b) Conditional specification

Which layer forms the future ectoderm in the sea urchin embryo?

a) Animal pole cells

b) Vegetal pole cells

c) Micromeres

d) Macromeres

Answer: a) Animal pole cells

What is the primary outcome of the first two cleavages in sea urchin embryos?

a) Formation of a blastocoel
b) Formation of micromeres

c) Equal distribution of maternal determinants

d) Establishment of body axes

Answer: d) Establishment of body axes

What role do the mesomeres play in sea urchin development?

a) Form the ectoderm

b) Form the endoderm

c) Form the mesoderm

d) Form the skeleton

Answer: a) Form the ectoderm

Which developmental process is directly influenced by the presence of

micromeres?

a) Cleavage

b) Gastrulation

c) Neurulation

d) Organogenesis

Answer: b) Gastrulation

Which cells are known to be pluripotent in the early sea urchin embryo?

a) Micromeres

b) Macromeres

c) Mesomeres
d) Blastocoel cells

Answer: c) Mesomeres

What happens to the blastomeres when isolated from the sea urchin embryo?

a) They die immediately

b) They differentiate according to their original position

c) They lose their fate and become pluripotent

d) They form identical clones

Answer: b) They differentiate according to their original position

What does the term "fate map" refer to in the context of sea urchin
development?

a) A map of genetic sequences

b) A diagram showing future developmental fates of cells

c) A timeline of embryo development

d) A chart of environmental influences

Answer: b) A diagram showing future developmental fates of cells

Which cellular structure is responsible for initiating the first cleavage in sea
urchin zygotes?

a) Nucleus

b) Centrosome

c) Ribosome

d) Mitochondria
Answer: b) Centrosome

What is the effect of disrupting β-catenin signaling in sea urchin embryos?

a) Normal development

b) Loss of mesoderm and endoderm

c) Excessive skeletal formation

d) Overproliferation of ectoderm

Answer: b) Loss of mesoderm and endoderm

Which process describes the movement of cells to new positions during

gastrulation in sea urchins?

a) Ingression

b) Invagination

c) Delamination

d) Epiboly

Answer: b) Invagination

What is the primary developmental fate of animal pole blastomeres?

a) Endoderm

b) Mesoderm

c) Ectoderm

d) Germ cells

Answer: c) Ectoderm
Which protein is critical for micromere specification and later skeletal
formation?

a) Actin

b) Tubulin

c) Pmar1

d) Myosin

Answer: c) Pmar1

What is the role of the blastocoel in sea urchin development?

a) Provide nutrients

b) Enable cell migration

c) Store waste products

d) Signal cell differentiation

Answer: b) Enable cell migration

How does the distribution of maternal determinants influence cell fate in sea
urchin embryos?

a) Equally in all cells

b) Randomly among cells

c) Unequally, leading to distinct cell fates

d) Not at all

Answer: c) Unequally, leading to distinct cell fates

What is the outcome of disrupting the vegetal plate in sea urchin embryos?
a) Normal development

b) Lack of gut formation

c) Excessive ectoderm formation

d) Overgrowth of mesoderm

Answer: b) Lack of gut formation

What initiates the mesoderm formation in sea urchin embryos?

a) Animal pole signals

b) Vegetal pole signals

c) Blastocoel expansion

d) Blastula formation

Answer: b) Vegetal pole signals

What is the first visible sign of gastrulation in sea urchin embryos?

a) Formation of the blastopore

b) Cell division

c) Blastocoel formation

d) Skeletal rod appearance

Answer: a) Formation of the blastopore

Which cells in the sea urchin embryo are specified autonomously?

a) Mesomeres
b) Micromeres

c) Macromeres

d) Blastocoel cells

Answer: b) Micromeres

What developmental process is influenced by the secretion of Delta by

micromeres?

a) Ectoderm formation

b) Mesoderm differentiation

c) Endoderm development

d) Neural induction

Answer: b) Mesoderm differentiation

What is the function of the large micromeres in sea urchin embryos?

a) Form the larval skeleton

b) Develop into neural tissue

c) Produce the germ cells

d) Initiate gastrulation

Answer: a) Form the larval skeleton

Which cells give rise to the primary mesenchyme in sea urchins?

a) Macromeres

b) Mesomeres

c) Micromeres
d) Blastocoel cells

Answer: c) Micromeres

What is the consequence of misplacing micromeres in a sea urchin embryo?

a) Normal development

b) Altered axis formation

c) No effect on development

d) Increased cell proliferation

Answer: b) Altered axis formation

How does LiCl treatment affect sea urchin embryos?

a) Induces ectodermal differentiation

b) Inhibits endoderm formation

c) Converts all cells to vegetal fate

d) Promotes apoptosis

Answer: c) Converts all cells to vegetal fate

Which cell population forms the gut in sea urchin embryos?

a) Animal pole cells

b) Vegetal plate cells

c) Primary mesenchyme cells

d) Ectodermal cells

Answer: b) Vegetal plate cells

What is the primary function of the archenteron in sea urchin development?

a) Act as a nerve center

b) Form the skeletal structure

c) Develop into the gut

d) Serve as the circulatory system

Answer: c) Develop into the gut

MCQs on Axis Specification of Sea Urchins

What is the primary factor determining the animal-vegetal axis in sea urchin
embryos?

A) Differential gene expression

B) Sperm entry point

C) Maternal mRNAs

D) Environmental temperature

Correct Answer: C) Maternal mRNAs

Which of the following proteins is crucial for vegetal cell fate specification in sea
urchin embryos?

A) β-catenin

B) Hox proteins

C) Noggin

D) Sonic hedgehog

Correct Answer: A) β-catenin

What is the role of micromeres in sea urchin development?

A) They induce ectoderm formation.

B) They form the larval skeleton.

C) They specify the oral-aboral axis.

D) They prevent polyspermy.

Correct Answer: B) They form the larval skeleton.

Which signaling pathway is activated by the micromeres to induce

endomesoderm in adjacent cells?

A) Wnt/β-catenin pathway

B) Notch signaling pathway

C) TGF-β pathway

D) Hedgehog signaling pathway

Correct Answer: A) Wnt/β-catenin pathway

How is the oral-aboral axis specified in sea urchin embryos?

A) Through the asymmetrical localization of maternal determinants

B) By the gradient of Nodal and BMP signaling

C) Via the first cleavage plane

D) By the point of sperm entry

Correct Answer: B) By the gradient of Nodal and BMP signaling

Which cells in the sea urchin embryo express the transcription factor Pmar1,
which is crucial for micromere fate?

A) Animal pole cells

B) Vegetal pole cells

C) Primary mesenchyme cells

D) Secondary mesenchyme cells

Correct Answer: B) Vegetal pole cells

What is the consequence of inhibiting β-catenin nuclearization in sea urchin

embryos?

A) Ectoderm formation is promoted.

B) The embryo develops normally.

C) Endomesoderm formation is disrupted.

D) The embryo becomes radially symmetrical.

Correct Answer: C) Endomesoderm formation is disrupted.

During sea urchin development, what does the animal pole typically give rise to?

A) Endoderm

B) Mesoderm

C) Ectoderm

D) Germ cells

Correct Answer: C) Ectoderm

Which of the following genes is directly activated by the β-catenin/Tcf complex in

the micromeres?
A) Wnt8

B) Otx2

C) Pmar1

D) Nodal

Correct Answer: C) Pmar1

In sea urchin embryos, what is the primary function of the vegetal plate cells?

A) To induce ectoderm differentiation

B) To form the archenteron during gastrulation

C) To generate the apical tuft

D) To regulate the cell cycle

Correct Answer: B) To form the archenteron during gastrulation

· What is gastrulation?

 · A. The formation of gametes

 B. The process of forming the three germ layers
 C. The fusion of sperm and egg
 D. The division of the zygote
 Correct Answer: B

· Which of the following is the first step in sea urchin gastrulation?

 · A. Ingression of primary mesenchyme cells

 B. Formation of the blastocoel
 C. Invagination of the vegetal plate
 D. Formation of the archenteron
 Correct Answer: A

· What is the primary role of primary mesenchyme cells in sea urchin

gastrulation?

 · A. Forming the endoderm

 B. Forming the ectoderm
 C. Forming the mesoderm and skeleton
 D. Forming the neural tube
 Correct Answer: C
· Where do primary mesenchyme cells originate from in sea urchins?

 · A. Vegetal plate
 B. Animal pole
 C. Blastocoel
 D. Ectoderm
 Correct Answer: A

· The invagination of the vegetal plate leads to the formation of which

structure?

 · A. Neural tube
 B. Blastopore
 C. Archenteron
 D. Notochord
 Correct Answer: C

· Which structure becomes the future mouth in sea urchins during

gastrulation?

 · A. Blastopore
 B. Archenteron
 C. Blastocoel
 D. Stomodeum
 Correct Answer: D

· What is the fate of the blastopore in sea urchins?

 · A. It becomes the mouth

 B. It becomes the anus
 C. It becomes the neural tube
 D. It becomes the notochord
 Correct Answer: B

· During sea urchin gastrulation, what is the main function of the secondary
mesenchyme cells?

 · A. Invagination of the vegetal plate

 B. Formation of the larval skeleton
 C. Elongation of the archenteron
 D. Formation of the ectoderm
 Correct Answer: C

· Which signaling molecule is crucial for the specification of the

endomesoderm in sea urchins?

 · A. BMP
 B. Wnt
 C. Delta
 D. Nodal
 Correct Answer: D
· The process where cells migrate into the blastocoel is known as?

 · A. Epiboly
 B. Ingression
 C. Delamination
 D. Invagination
 Correct Answer: B

· Which layer is formed by the cells that ingress during sea urchin
gastrulation?

 · A. Ectoderm
 B. Mesoderm
 C. Endoderm
 D. Neural plate
 Correct Answer: B

· The central cavity formed during early sea urchin development is called?

 · A. Blastocoel
 B. Archenteron
 C. Coelom
 D. Neural tube
 Correct Answer: A

· What role do filopodia play in sea urchin gastrulation?

 · A. Cell division
 B. Cell adhesion
 C. Pulling the archenteron
 D. Secreting enzymes
 Correct Answer: C

· Which of the following is the correct order of sea urchin gastrulation stages?

 · A. Ingression, invagination, convergent extension

 B. Invagination, ingression, convergent extension
 C. Convergent extension, ingression, invagination
 D. Ingression, convergent extension, invagination
 Correct Answer: A

· The endoderm in sea urchins gives rise to which structures?

 · A. Skin and nervous system

 B. Muscles and bones
 C. Digestive tract and associated organs
 D. Circulatory system
 Correct Answer: C

· Which term describes the inward movement of cells at the vegetal pole
during gastrulation?
  · A. Epiboly
 B. Invagination
 C. Involution
 D. Ingression
 Correct Answer: B

· Which molecules are essential for the formation of the vegetal plate in sea
urchins?

 · A. Fibronectin and laminin

 B. Cadherins and catenins
 C. Disheveled and beta-catenin
 D. Nodal and Vg1
 Correct Answer: C

· What initiates the invagination process during sea urchin gastrulation?

 · A. Change in cell shape and apical constriction

 B. Cell proliferation
 C. Cell apoptosis
 D. Cell fusion
 Correct Answer: A

· The archenteron eventually forms which part of the sea urchin?

 · A. Coelomic pouches
 B. Gut
 C. Skeleton
 D. Neural tube
 Correct Answer: B

· Which process is crucial for the elongation of the archenteron in sea urchins?

 · A. Cell division
 B. Apoptosis
 C. Convergent extension
 D. Delamination
 Correct Answer: C

· In sea urchins, the term “secondary mesenchyme” refers to cells that will
primarily contribute to what?

 · A. Nervous system
 B. Skeletal structures
 C. Gut lining
 D. Blood cells
 Correct Answer: B

· Which layer lines the archenteron in sea urchins?

 · A. Ectoderm
  B. Endoderm
 C. Mesoderm
 D. Neural crest
 Correct Answer: B

· During which phase does the archenteron make its first significant contact
with the blastocoel wall?

 · A. Initial invagination
 B. Mid-gastrulation
 C. Late gastrulation
 D. Pre-gastrulation
 Correct Answer: B

· What is the function of hyaline layer during sea urchin gastrulation?

 · A. Guide cell migration

 B. Provide structural support
 C. Secrete digestive enzymes
 D. Form the blastocoel
 Correct Answer: B

· Which molecular pathway is activated by Wnt signaling during sea urchin

gastrulation?

 · A. BMP pathway
 B. Hedgehog pathway
 C. Canonical Wnt/beta-catenin pathway
 D. JAK/STAT pathway
 Correct Answer: C

· How does calcium signaling affect sea urchin gastrulation?

 · A. It inhibits cell movement

 B. It promotes cell adhesion
 C. It regulates cell shape changes and movement
 D. It has no significant effect
 Correct Answer: C

· In sea urchin embryos, which cells are responsible for secreting the enzymes
that digest the fertilization envelope?

 · A. Primary mesenchyme cells

 B. Secondary mesenchyme cells
 C. Vegetal plate cells
 D. Animal pole cells
 Correct Answer: B

· Which type of cell movement is characterized by cells spreading as a thin

sheet?
  · A. Invagination
 B. Ingression
 C. Epiboly
 D. Convergent extension
 Correct Answer: C

· What is the primary role of the vegetal pole cells during early sea urchin
development?

 · A. To form the neural tube

 B. To initiate invagination and form the archenteron
 C. To form the animal hemisphere
 D. To produce gametes
 Correct Answer: B

· Which structure provides the first sign of polarity in the sea urchin embryo?

 · A. Animal-vegetal axis
 B. Dorsal-ventral axis
 C. Left-right axis
 D. Anterior-posterior axis
 Correct Answer: A