The figure below shows the levels of protein synthesis over

The figure below shows the levels of protein synthesis over time in a fertilized sea urchin embryo. Describe the significance of the red line versus the black line. What happens at 8-10 hours after fertilization? What role does this event play in development?

Solution

The red line( increasing graph) indicates the protein content while the black line indicates the RNA content of the cell.

After 8-10 hours of fertilisation the embryo enters the blastula stage.

In the blastula stage rapid cell division occurs which is important for the gastrulation stage. Also high amount of protein synthesis takes place during the blastula formation.