Drosophila, like most insects, have embryos that undergo a type of cleavage in which there is a large central yolk mass surrounded by multinucleate cytoplasm that later undergoes cellularization. What is the term for this type of cleavage?
The term for this type of cleavage is "superficial cleavage."
The term for this type of cleavage in Drosophila embryos is called "syncytial cleavage."
The term for the type of cleavage characterized by a large central yolk mass surrounded by multinucleate cytoplasm is known as "syncytial cleavage."
Syncytial cleavage is a distinctive pattern of early embryonic development observed in insects, particularly in Drosophila. During syncytial cleavage, the fertilized egg undergoes rapid cell divisions without accompanying cytokinesis. As a result, the nucleus divides multiple times without the formation of distinct cell boundaries, creating a multinucleate cytoplasmic mass known as a syncytium. This syncytium surrounds a centrally located yolk mass that provides nutrients for the developing embryo.
Eventually, after several rounds of syncytial divisions, cellularization occurs. Cellularization is the process by which the syncytium is partitioned into individual cells with distinct plasma membranes, creating a multicellular embryo. This transformation involves the migration and coalescence of membranes, leading to the formation of plasma membrane furrows that separate the individual cells within the syncytium.
Thus, to summarize, the term for the type of cleavage described, where there is a large central yolk mass surrounded by multinucleate cytoplasm that later undergoes cellularization, is called "syncytial cleavage."