Volvox Embryo (Photo : Youtube)
A team of researchers successfully captured the first ever 3D video of a Volvox's algal embryo, which was seen turning itself inside out. The video showed the embryo changing its shapes, before returning to its original mushroom-like figure.
This discovery can help impart a lot of information about the mechanical process of birth which takes place in animals. It proved to be the ideal test case when it comes to understanding the working of an embryo inside of animals, according to Red Orbit.
The scientists used the method of fluorescence microscopy to study the Volvox embryos through the integration of the mathematical model of morphogenesis with it. This model helps to study the origin of an organism's form and structure, Science Daily added.
The process of development in the Volvox embryos is very similar to the process of gastrulation which is observed in animal embryos. During gastrulation, the animal embryo folds itself inwards into a cup like structure, developing the base for organ prorogation. This leads to cell division and migration in animals, which the starting point of the development of the baby.
Hence, cell sheet folding was concluded to be the ideal model to understand the entire process of embryo development. In Volvox embryos, the entire folding takes up to one hour, which is also similar to animal embryos.
The study was published in the journal "Physical Review Letters" on Apr. 27.
