Morphogens

Morphogens are natural signaling molecules that guide the development of an organism's body plan. They are produced in specific regions and spread out through tissues, creating concentration gradients. These varying levels of morphogens tell cells where they are in the body and what type of cell they should become, influencing processes like tissue formation and organ development. Essentially, morphogens act as biological instructive signals, helping cells coordinate their growth and differentiation based on their position relative to the source.