Eyes on Movement

From a jumble of cells, the intricate shapes of our organs emerge. Hoping to get a better handle on how this happens, researchers looked to zebrafish, specifically their eyes. Developing zebrafish and human eyes form a cup-shaped structure, unsurprisingly called the optic cup. Researchers imaged the mass of cells (green) that develop into the cup. One group of cells constricted to form a dip in the cell mass. While another group of cells moved along to help create the edges of the characteristic C-shape of the cup, when viewed in cross-section (pictured). These movements depended on the cells extending projections and interacting with the surface on which they were travelling. Genetic mutants impaired in these processes (top right and bottom row) developed abnormal shapes in their developing optic cups when compared with normal zebrafish (top left). Ultimately forming even the simplest shapes needs groups of cells to get coordinated.

Written by Lux Fatimathas

Lux Fatimathas

Writer

Having pursued science through a career in research, communications and publishing, she is currently a writer and editor for a healthcare marketing agency and also juggles freelance science writing.

• Image adapted from work by Jaydeep Sidhaye and Caren Norden
• Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
• Image originally published under a Creative Commons Licence (BY 4.0)
• Published in eLife, April 2017