Axons from neurons of the central nervous system coalesce to form "commissures" (ladder-like structures) along the ventral midline in the fly embryo, seen here on its side. These axons forming the ventral nerve cord (analagous to the vertebrate spinal cord). Striking similarities in brain and nerve cord development between insects and vertebrates have led to many important discoveries.

42x magnification. Confocal micrograph.

(For aficionados, the cellular component labelled here is the cytoskeletal component actin - Rhodamine-Phalloidin stain.)

Imaged using an Olympus Fluoview 1000 in the laboratory of my gracious mentor, Dr Nick Brown (Cambridge University), with funding from the BBSRC, and gratitude to my PhD supervisor, Dr Katja Roper (MRC-LMB, Cambridge University).