Title: primitive streak
Long Title: IUPAC Gold Book - primitive streak
DOI: 10.1351/goldbook.11131
Status: current

Definition
Structure forming in the blastula during early embryogenesis that establishes bilateral symmetry and determines the site of gastrulation and germ layer formation.

Related Terms
- blastula: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/10464
- embryogenesis: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/10644
- gastrulation: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/10750
- germ layer: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/10763

Source
- PAC, 2016, 88, 713. 'Glossary of terms used in developmental and reproductive toxicology (IUPAC Recommendations 2016)' on page 796 (https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2015-1202)

Other Outputs
- html: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/11131/html
- json: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/11131/json
- xml: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/11131/xml

Citation: Citation: 'primitive streak' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. 10.1351/goldbook.11131
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Disclaimer: The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is continuously reviewing and, where needed, updating terms in the Compendium of Chemical Terminology (the IUPAC Gold Book). Users of these terms are encouraged to include the version of a term with its use and to check regularly for updates to term definitions that you are using.
Accessed: 2026-05-11T03:08:46+00:00