blastema

noun

blas·​te·​ma bla-ˈstē-mə 

plural blastemas or blastemata bla-ˈstē-mə-tə 

: a mass of undifferentiated cells capable of growth and differentiation

blastemal

bla-ˈstē-məl 

adjective

or blastematic

ˌbla-stə-ˈma-tik 

Examples of blastema in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

If it's needed, wnt signaling may also be reactivated during regeneration after the loss of major portions of the animal, inducing the blastema to form new tail structures. —John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 18 Apr. 2025

The process has been well-studied by this point and involves the formation of a cluster of stem cells, called a blastema, at the site of damage. —John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 18 Apr. 2025

Most cells making up the blastema are not stem cells from the bulb that migrate to the tip. —Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 3 Jan. 2024

Thanks to that cocktail, in 25 animals the tissue created a blastema — no nerve necessary. —Amber Dance, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Jan. 2020

What determines which cells migrate into a blastema, and which stay put? —Amber Dance, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Jan. 2020

The first phase of the Pentagon’s plan to regrow soldiers’ limbs is complete; scientists managed to turn human skin into the equivalent of a blastema — a mass of undifferentiated cells that can develop into new body parts. —Noah Shachtman, WIRED, 25 Mar. 2009

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Greek blástēma "shoot, offshoot," from blastē-, variant stem of blastánein, aorist blasteîn "to bud, sprout, grow" + -ma, resultative noun suffix — more at -blast

First Known Use

circa 1823, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

blastema

noun

blas·​te·​ma bla-ˈstē-mə 

plural blastemas also blastemata -mət-ə 

: a mass of living substance capable of growth and differentiation

blastematic

ˌblas-tə-ˈmat-ik 

adjective

or blastemic

bla-ˈstē-mik  -ˈstem-ik