Morphogenesis can be defined as the processes that are responsible for producing the complex shapes of adults from the simple ball of cells that derives from division of the fertilized egg (On-line Medical Dictionary, © 1997–98 Academic Medical Publishing & CancerWEB).

What is the term morphogenesis?

Morphogenesis is a biological process that causes a tissue or organ to develop its shape by controlling the spatial distribution of cells during embryonic development.

What are some examples of morphogenesis?

Examples include neural crest cells, primordial germ cells, and somite derivatives, and this area has attracted considerable interest. The direction of cell movement within an embryo is controlled by tracks (see contact guidance and haptotaxis Table 1), signaling gradients (chemotaxis) or boundary interactions.