生物发育(development, biological)

生物个体在一生中，大小、形态和功能不断改变的过程，透过发育，生物体的遗传潜力（基因型〔genotype〕）被翻译为能行使一定功能的成年系统（表现型〔phenotype〕）。发育包含成长，但有别於反覆性的化学变化（代谢〔metabolism〕）或多个世代的变化（演化〔evolution〕）。去氧核糖核酸（DNA）主导了受精卵的发育，因此细胞变成特化的结构，以表现特定的功能。人类在出生前就经过胚胎（embryo）和胎儿（fetus）的发育阶段，而在儿童时期继续发育过程。其他的哺乳动物也依循类似的过程。两生类（Amphibian）和昆虫则经过非常不同的发育阶段而成长。在植物中，其发育的基本模式是由沿中央的茎排列成簇的分生组织细胞来决定，其形态则决定於分生组织细胞内不同细胞的生长率。动植物的生长都会受到激素（荷尔蒙）的巨大影响，而个体细胞内的因素可能也扮演了一个角色。

English version：

development, biological

Gradual changes in size, shape, and function during an organism's life that translate its genetic potentials (genotype) into functioning mature systems (phenotype). It includes growth but not repetitive chemical changes (metabolism) or changes over more than one lifetime (evolution). DNA directs the development of a fertilized egg so that cells become specialized structures that carry out specific functions. In humans, development progresses through the embryo and fetus stages before birth and continues during childhood. Other mammals follow a similar course. Amphibians and insects go through distinctive stages that are quite different. In plants, the basic pattern is determined by the arrangement of lateral buds around a central growing stem. Different rates of growth of the plant's component elements then determine its shape and that of various parts. In both animals and plants, growth is greatly influenced by hormones; factors within individual cells probably also play a role.