#embryology

24 hours in the life of a zebrafish embryo

In this video you can watch 24 hours (the second day) in the development of a tiny zebrafish embryo.

Some cells have been labelled with a fluorescent protein naturally found in jellyfish. This fluorescent label marks several developing organ systems including the eye, hatching gland and kidney.

You can also see two groups of cells migrating along the trunk of the embryo, depositing smaller clumps of sensory cells as they go.  These cells are the precursors of the lateral line system, which gives fish a sense of ‘touch at a distance’, enabling them to shoal, avoid obstacles and find prey.

Look more closely to see individual cells moving around over the skin.

Light sheet microscopy illuminates the specimen with a thin sheet of light and allows scientists like Dr Tanya Whitfield and her team at the University of Sheffield to observe cells and embryos at high speeds or for long times. This research is helping them to gain a better understanding of the amazing process of embryogenesis, including the development of sensory systems such as the lateral line and inner ear.

Video: Sarah Baxendale and Nick van Hateren.

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See more beautiful images of zebrafish embryos here

Blobfish-face

A coronal section through a developing jaw (when flipped upside down) looks like poor old blobfish!

i♡histo

The blobfish eyes are formed from Meckel’s cartilage. A component of the first pharyngeal arch that runs the length of the developing mandible. It degenerates as the fetus develops leaving only two small components on each side of the head. These ossify (become bone) to form the incus & malleus (ear ossicles) of the middle ear.

The blobfish nose is the developing tongue. It is composed of developing skeletal muscle fibers. Skeletal muscle forms from myoblasts that line up & fuse to form long myotubes. These will then synthesize actin/myosin which will allow them to contract & form the intrinsic skeletal muscle of the tongue.

The blobfish chin is formed by the developing maxilla. Two regions of tissue (the palatine shelves) grow together & fuse in the midline to form the posterior hard palate. You can see the midline suture forming & feel it in your own mouth by running your tongue along the roof of your mouth. Failure of these to fuse results in a variety of cleft lip and palate combinations.

The blobfish head is formed from a developing mandible. You can see small islands of bone forming within the mesenchymal tissue of the head. This type of bone development is called intramembranous ossification.

The blobfish is native to coastal waters off mainland Australia and Tasmania where it lives way deep down in the darkest depths of the ocean. Its gelatinous body is ideal for withstanding the pressure down there but when brought to the surface it looks like a sad melted pink crayon.

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