A reactive state permitting directional development and differentiation in response to a stimulus or organiser. What constitutes an organiser, a concept originally introduced into embryology by Hans Spemann (1869-1941), continues to be a topic of intense research. The concept of competence in embryology is closely associated with that of sensitive period. In biology, more generally, it refers to the ability of a cell, typically a bacterium, to take up DNA and be genetically transformed.
See Differentiation (specific), Embryology, DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), Induction (embryology), Organizer (embryology), Permissive interaction, Sensitive period