Fate mapping

Fate maps were created with the intent of tracing a specified region during the early developmental transition of an embryo to a distinct body structure.

[1] The early fate maps in 1905 were created by Edwin Conklin and were based on direct observation of the embryos of ascidians (sea squirts) and other marine invertebrates.

[2] Modern fate mapping began in 1929 when Walter Vogt invented a process which involved marking a specific region of a developing embryo using a dyed agar chip and tracking the cells through gastrulation.

[3] To achieve this experiment, Vogt allowed dye and agar to dry on a microscope plate, and placed small pieces onto specific embryo locations.

This procedure enabled Vogt to create accurate fate maps, introducing an innovative approach to morphogenesis reearch.