What term describes the growth and division of cells in the developing brain?

The term that describes the growth and division of cells in the developing brain is "proliferation." This process is essential during brain development, as it involves the rapid increase in the number of cells, which leads to the formation of the brain's structure. During proliferation, neural stem cells and progenitor cells divide to give rise to various types of neural cells, including neurons and glial cells.

Proliferation is a critical stage in brain development, as it lays the foundation for the overall size and complexity of the brain. A proper balance of cell proliferation is necessary to ensure that an adequate number of neurons are produced, which will later differentiate and connect to form functional neural networks. Too much or too little proliferation can lead to developmental disorders.

In contrast, induction refers to the process where one group of cells influences the fate of another group of cells, specialization involves the process of cells becoming more specialized and acquiring specific functions, and apoptosis is the programmed cell death that helps shape the developing brain by removing excess or damaged cells.