Imaging embryonic development in Caenorhabditis elegans.

摘要: Embryos are remarkable for their combination of pluripotency, three-dimensionality, and swiftness subcellular developmental rearrangements. Embryogenesis in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is uniquely suited among model systems to high-resolution dynamic imaging. Within a single high-magnification, high-numerical aperture (NA) microscope field, at submicrometer resolution, it possible observe several entire animals taking form. The full approximately 14-h course embryonic cleavage morphogenesis this transparent, free-living worm essentially invariant. Observing specific fluorescently labeled components during development promises reveal roles organelles molecules an extremely diverse reproducible set contexts. C. community has created growing collection hundreds transgenic strains expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled versions distinct endogenously expressed genes. task correlating resulting expression localization patterns space time simultaneously alluring technically demanding. This article describes use four-dimensional (4D) laser-scanning microscopy subsequent data processing record, portray, analyze, compare tagged gene products embryo.