Figure 4. Nxn^J13/J13 mutants have cleft palates and small mandibles.

Homozygous Nxn^J13/J13 embryos were compared to Nxn^J13+/+Inv control littermates. (A) Gross morphology at E18.5. Nxn^J13/J13 mutants (right) have a shortened snout compared to control littermates (left). (B) The palate (inside the dotted lines) was examined at E18.5, and a cleft palate (yellow arrow) occurred in Nxn^J13/J13 embryos (right) but not in control littermates (left). (C) Skeletal preparations were carried out at E18.5. The mandible is shorter in length in Nxn^J13/J13 embryos (bottom) than in control littermates (top). (D) The mean and standard error are plotted to show the difference in mandible length. Mutant mandibles are significantly (p<0.001) shorter than controls (n = 10 mandibles per genotype).