noun
- A type of gastrulation in which one layer of cells grows over and encloses another layer during early embryonic development.
Usage: biology; developmental biology; technical term
Examples
- During epiboly, the ectoderm expands and gradually covers the yolk and other embryonic tissues.
- Fish embryos undergo epiboly as a major stage in their early development.
- The process of epiboly is essential for proper formation of the three germ layers.
- In amphibian development, epiboly occurs after the initial cleavage divisions.
- Scientists study epiboly to understand how cells organize and differentiate in developing organisms.