Exhibition Gallery

Just before hatching, a larva takes its first “breath” as its trachea fills with air. The larva's autofluorescent, chitin-lined walls contrast with the surrounding tissue, as seen in this image. The characteristic branching structure is patterned and controlled during embryogenesis by the localization of specific signals that are thought to direct cell migration.

Breath of Life

Heath Johnson (postdoc), Yogesh Goyal (graduate student)

Department of Molecular Biology, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering

Just before hatching, a larva takes its first “breath” as its trachea fills with air. The larva’s autofluorescent, chitin-lined walls contrast with the surrounding tissue, as seen in this image. The characteristic branching structure is patterned and controlled during embryogenesis by the localization of specific signals that are thought to direct cell migration.