[Campbell Biology P.1098] According to the text, which of the following statements best defin... | Practice Question

According to the text, which of the following statements best defines gastrulation?

  • A: It is the dramatic reorganization of the hollow blastula into a two-layered or three-layered embryo, involving cell movement and germ layer formation.
  • B: It is the process of cell division without growth that occurs during the cleavage stage.
  • C: It is the formation of organs from the three embryonic germ layers.
  • D: It is the process by which an animal body takes shape through changes in cell shape, position, and survival.

Explanation

The text explicitly defines gastrulation as "a dramatic reorganization of the hollow blastula into a two-layered or three-layered embryo called a gastrula. Cells move during gastrulation, taking up new positions and often acquiring new neighbors... The cell layers produced are collectively called the embryonic germ layers." This aligns perfectly with option A.