The Zahn drawings: new illustrations of <i>Xenopus</i> embryo and tadpole stages for studies of craniofacial development

Abstract

The embryos and tadpoles of the frog <i>Xenopus</i> are increasingly important subjects for studies of the development of the head and face - studies that are providing novel and crucial insight into the causes and prevention of a suite of devastating birth defects, as well as basic evolutionary and developmental biology. However, many studies are conducted on a range of embryonic stages that are not fully represented in the beloved <i>Xenopus</i> resource, Nieuwkoop and Faber's classic <i>Normal Table of</i> Xenopus laevis <i>(Daudin)</i> The lack of standardized images at these stages acts as a barrier to the efficient and accurate representation and communication of experimental methodology and expression data. To fill this gap, we have created 27 new high-quality illustrations. Like their oft-used predecessors from Nieuwkoop and Faber, these drawings can be freely downloaded and used, and will, we hope, serve as an essential resource for this important model system.