03-P029 Analysing the cellular mechanisms that underlie Drosophila head involution

Morphogenetic cell movements mould the shape of the developing organism. These movements have been extensively studied during Drosophila embryonic development. In particular live imaging analyses have revealed the complexities underlying the comparatively simple processes of germband extension, retraction and dorsal closure. I am applying live imaging techniques to an apparently complex morphogenetic process, head involution. Head involution involves the anterior movement of an extending epidermal sheet over the exposed neural tissue of the head that itself dives internally. Here I will present my analysis of the cellular mechanisms of wild type head involution and compare these to those occurring in three mutants with distinctive head involution defects.