Figure 1.

Schematic drawing showing coronal view of a normal palate shelf and key stages of mouse palatal development. At E12-E13 days in the mouse gestation, the palatal shelves grow downward along the tongue (t). At E13-E13.5 days, the palatal shelves become elevated above the tongue. At E14.5, the palatal shelves adhere to each other in the midline. After E15.5 days, the MES completely degrades, and the palate fuses