developmental biology

American  

noun

1. the branch of biology dealing with the processes of growth and change that transform an organism from a fertilized egg or asexual reproductive unit, as a spore or gemmule, to an adult.

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developmental biology Cultural  

1. The study of the processes by which an organism develops from a zygote to its full structure. This field includes the study of cellular differentiation as well as body structure development. (See also embryology.)

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Etymology

Origin of developmental biology

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

Nathan Shatz, who earned his molecular, cellular and developmental biology degree from Michigan, is a co-founder of Milieu.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

Over his long career, Manny Ares, UC Santa Cruz distinguished professor of molecular, cellular, and developmental biology, has made it his mission to learn as much about RNA splicing as he can.

From Science Daily • May 10, 2024

"The implications of these discoveries extend to the broader field of cellular biology, offering insights that could impact many areas of research and applications, for instance in developmental biology," adds Janshoff.

From Science Daily • Dec. 22, 2023

What are some of the big remaining open questions in the field of developmental biology?

From Scientific American • Nov. 9, 2023

Centuries of embryology and morphology laid the groundwork for the discipline of developmental biology.

From Scientific American • Nov. 9, 2023