What characteristic is associated with a morphogen?

A morphogen is a signaling molecule that plays a crucial role in regulating the patterning of tissues in developing embryos. Its primary function is to provide positional information to cells, influencing their fate and the types of structures they will ultimately develop into based on their location in a gradient of concentration.

As cells respond to different concentrations of a morphogen, they can differentiate into various cell types or tissues necessary for proper organism development. For example, during embryonic development, a morphogen can dictate whether a cell will become part of the nervous system, muscle tissue, or another cell type, shaping the overall architecture of the organism.

This characteristic of determining cell fate is vital in developmental biology, illustrating how precise spatial and temporal controls can lead to organized and functional biological structures.