Prospective potency

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The prospective potency (derived from Latin prospectus = "view" and potentia = "ability") is a term from developmental biology that was introduced by Hans Driesch as part of his theories of neovitalism . It describes the set of all development possibilities of a cell of a germinal part. In this context, both cleavage cells and organ structures and similar early stages of development are understood as the germinal part .

Prospective potency and importance

Due to their prospective potency, embryonic cells or other parts of the germ could develop into different types of tissue and organs under experimentally modified conditions , whereby one speaks of the ability to develop . In the mosaic type or fabric composite , however, only one of the possible forms is realized through a corresponding induction . This normal developmental fate is called prospective meaning .

The prospective potency is usually much greater than the prospective meaning and is only narrowed down to the prospective meaning in the course of development.

literature

  • Keywords "prospective potency" and "prospective meaning" in: Herder-Lexikon der Biologie. Spectrum Akademischer Verlag GmbH, Heidelberg 2003. ISBN 3-8274-0354-5