Figure 7

Figure 7

Comparative analysis of chondrocyte morphology in cdc27 mutants and control siblings using fluorescent WGA staining. This figure illustrates the results of fluorescent wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) staining at 4 days post-fertilization (dpf), showcasing the craniofacial cartilage formation in both control siblings and cdc27^−/− mutant embryos. In the control siblings, the craniofacial cartilage demonstrates a highly consistent and stereotypical shape, akin to a “stack of pennies” where elongated and slender chondrocytes are meticulously arranged in layers, forming the individual cartilage elements. In stark contrast, the cdc27^−/− embryos exhibit significantly altered chondrocyte morphology: the chondrocytes within the cartilage are noticeably smaller and the overall cartilage structures are markedly deformed, deviating substantially from the organized arrangement seen in the control siblings.