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Definition

noun

A type of cleavage on the basis of the potentiality of blastomeres in which the blastomeres (resulting from cleavage) are not qualitatively equipotential and each has a specific developmental fate set early. This type of cleavage is characteristic of many protostomes.

Supplement

Since the developmental fate is set early for each of the blastomeres produced from early embryonic cleavage, each of these cells cannot individually develop into a whole organism.

Compare: indeterminate cleavage