Figure 1.

The cell types and gene expression patterns of the 16-cell Ciona embryo are well characterised. (a) Drawing of a 16-cell stage embryo showing Ciona cell type nomenclature (left). All eight cells were dissected and isolated by glass needle from the right side of four 16-cell embryos and identified visually under microscope (right). (b) Nine known expression patterns of Ciona (right) are shown according to a schematic layout (left), with solid rectangles indicating expression in the corresponding cells. Gene names of key markers of these patterns are provided^23,35.