Competence

[L. competentia - meeting together, agreement, symmetry] The ability or state which renders a cell capable of responding to an inductor or hormone The dorsal ectoderm of amphibian embryos displays competence for neural induction. [P.D. Nieuwkoop: "In my opinion, the central question in embryology is therefore the nature of competence, its formation, climax, and decline." From: R. Gordon, N.K. Bjorklund, P.D. Nieuwkoop. Appendix: Dialogue on embryonic induction and differentiation waves. Int. Review Cytology, 150:373-420].