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Mutant Mosaic
12 May 2015

Mutant Mosaic

Each of these cells (highlighted in green with a blue-coloured nucleus) is a tiny retina in the eye of a fruit fly, Drosophila. Researchers believe patterns hidden between the cells hold clues to human cancer progression. The developing fly eye, much like developing human organs, requires morphogenesis – the process of shaping and patterning new tissue from repeating cellular 'building blocks'. On the left, the eye pictured has developed correctly – each retina is perfectly placed in a repeating hexagonal pattern, 2000 times smaller than a 50 pence piece (highlighted by a red line). But the eye on the right has lost its pattern due to a mutation in a gene called Vav. Using the fly’s eye as a biological model, researchers hope to draw parallels with morphogenesis inside human tissues, and in this case to understand the effects of unnatural levels of VAV found in many forms of cancer.

Written by John Ankers

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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