Question:
Explain what is meant by the following: Patterning of the egg jump-starts cellular differentiation in the embryo.

Answer:
Specific transcription factors are asymmetrically located in an egg such that, once fertilized, asymmetric cell divisions segregate different amounts into various cell types. As these transcription factors turn on/off specific genes, cell differentiate into the various cell types seen in a fully assmbled bauplan for the organism.