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Definition

noun, plural: embryos

(zoology) A multicellular organism that primarily undergoes extensive and rapid growth and differentiation between the time of fertilization and fetal stage in higher forms while larval stage in lower forms

(human biology) Baby in the early developmental stage, after the zygote phase (at fertilization) to week eight from the time of fertilization (note: week eight from the time of fertilization is equivalent to 10 weeks gestational age)

(botany) A young, developing plant, such as the rudimentary plant inside the seed of higher plant forms or that inside the archegonium of mosses and ferns

Supplement

In humans, the embryo refers to the growing organism after being a zygote and before being a fetus. The zygote becomes an embryo immediately after series of cell division. After the continuous cell division and differentiation in eight weeks, the embryo becomes a fetus in which the organism undergoes extensive organogenesis.

Word origin: Ancient Greek embruon (fetus), from en-, in- + bruō (grow, swell)

Related term(s):

• embryonic
• embryology
• embryogenesis
• presomite embryo
• homogametic embryo
• Embryo - Animals
• Embryo - Plants
• embryo resorption
• embryo technology
• embryo sac