Figure 1

Changing local nuclear density patterns during stage 5. Average local nuclear densities on the blastoderm surface were computed for PointCloud data derived from embryos for six consecutive time intervals spanning stage 5. (a-f) Cylindrical projections of the average for each of these temporal cohorts. The range of membrane invagination for embryos in each temporal cohort is shown above each panel (for example, 5:0-3%). Isodensity contours were plotted over a color map representing local average densities from 0.025 nuclei/μm² (dark blue) to 0.05 nuclei/μm² (dark red). The position on the y-axis of the dorsal midline (D), ventral midline (V), and left (L) and right (R) lateral midlines are indicated. On the x-axis, anterior is to the left, posterior is to the right, and the distance along the a/p axis is given as a percent egg length. The number of embryos in each cohort (n) and the standard deviation of nuclear density values (SD) are also shown. It can be seen that over time the local nuclear densities increased dorsally, decreased at the poles, and changed little ventrally.