Refer to the figure showing a stage of gastrulation in the frog. Consider a piece of ectoderm that is destined to be neural tissue in its original location in the gastrula shown in the figure.If it is transplanted into a location destined to be epidermis in a gastrula of similar age, which of the following will result?
A) The transplanted tissue will develop into neural tissue.
B) The transplanted tissue will develop into dermis.
C) The transplant will be rejected.
D) The transplanted tissue will develop into epidermis.
E) A second complete embryo will form belly-to-belly with the recipient of the transplant.

Question

Refer to the figure showing a stage of gastrulation in the frog.  Consider a piece of ectoderm that is destined to be neural tissue in its original location in the gastrula shown in the figure.If it is transplanted into a location destined to be epidermis in a gastrula of similar age, which of the following will result?
A) The transplanted tissue will develop into neural tissue. 
B) The transplanted tissue will develop into dermis. 
C) The transplant will be rejected. 
D) The transplanted tissue will develop into epidermis. 
E) A second complete embryo will form belly-to-belly with the recipient of the transplant.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

During gastrulation, cells are already committed to specific lineages. In this case, the ectoderm that was originally destined to be neural tissue will develop into neural tissue even if transplanted to a new location because this commitment has already been made. However, if the ectoderm is transplanted to a location destined to be epidermis, it will adopt the fate of its new location and differentiate into epidermal tissue. Therefore, the transplanted tissue will develop into epidermis (choice D).

Refer to the Figure Showing a Stage of Gastrulation in the Frog