Movies of Fly Embryogenesis

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Drosophila cleavage stage embryo mitotic spindles visualized by a Ncd-GFP fusion protein This movie, produced in the laboratory of Sharon Endow, uses Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) to tag the Ncd microtubule motor protein that is associated with mitotic spindles in Drosophila melanogaster. Several rounds of mitoses in a cleavage stage syncytial embryo can be seen. Note that the mitoses occur in "waves" that move toward the central portion of the embryo. The spindles appear and disappear as the embryonic nuclei cycle through rapid mitoses.

Nuclei in Drosophila gastrulation visualized by a nuclear localization signal-GFP fusion protein This movie, from the Ilan Davis lab, uses a GFP-Nuclear Localization Signal fusion to tag nuclei in a Drosophila melanogaster gastrula. The movements associated with germ band extension can be seen clearly. Also note the invagination of the posterior midgut, carrying the pole cells into the interior.

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