| Name: | osteoblast |
|---|---|
| Synonyms: | osteoblasts |
| Definition: | A bone-forming cell which secretes an extracellular matrix. Hydroxyapatite crystals are then deposited into the matrix to form bone. |
| Ontology: | Anatomy Ontology [ZFA:0009031] |
| Name: | cell dedifferentiation |
|---|---|
| Synonyms: | |
| Definition: | The process in which a specialized cell loses the structural or functional features that characterize it in the mature organism, or some other relatively stable phase of the organism's life history. Under certain conditions, these cells can revert back to the features of the stem cells that were their ancestors. |
| Ontology: | GO: Biological Process [GO:0043697] QuickGO AmiGO |