Blastomere
= Blastomere
A <cell> produced by the early <cleavage divisions> of an embryo.
Early cleavage can increase <cell> number while dividing a largely fixed initial egg <volume> into smaller units. The developmental contribution of an isolated <blastomere> depends on <species>, stage and interactions with its neighbours, rather than following from its size alone. <Molecular Biology of the Cell, 4th edition by Bruce Alberts and others>[Chapter 21, Early Animal Development]{ref}