Anlage

Anlage is a fundamental principle, or a foundation for future development. The word is of German origin and relates to the verb anlegen which means establishing something or preparing something for development (e.g. Geldanlage, a monetary investment; Gartenanlage, a park or nature reservoir; Veranlagung, any kind of predisposition).

In biology, anlage is the primordium, the initial clustering of embryonic cells that serves as a foundation from which a body part or an organ develops.

In genetics, anlage is a predisposition to a given personality characteristic or a trait.

Failure to progress past this stage in organ development is known as agenesis.


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