Polyspermy generates Morphogenesis-defective Embryos in the Ascidian, Ciona intestinalis (Ascidiacea, Tunicata)

Polyspermic eggs of Ciona intestinalis differentiate into morphogenesis-defective embryos which are a multinuclear syncytium. These morphogenesis-defective embryos hatch by dissolving their chorion at the same time control larvae hatch. The production and secretion of hatching enzyme can be separated from the process of morphogenesis. This system may be useful for understanding themechanism of cytodifferentiation including developmental clock