Rainbow Trout

Zachary Gaber, Graduate Student,
Cell & Developmental Biology, University of Michigan

The developing spinal cord contains populations of neural progenitor cells that
form the nerves and supporting cells of the adult spinal cord. This image shows
a cross-section of a four-day-old chicken embryo at the time when the progenitor
cells are just beginning to form nerve cells. The cyan, blue, and turquoise cells
at the center of the spinal cord are different classes of progenitors. The cells
maturing into nerves are stained yellow, orange and red. Although this is a
picture of a chick embryo, a mammalian embryo would look quite similar.


Judy Busby

This quilt is a rendition of Zachary Gaber’s photograph of a
cross section of a four-day-old chick embryo’s spinal cord. The
background is hand quilted and machine quilted. Hand sewn
embellishments include: Swarovski crystals, Czech glass beads,
fiber optic beads, red coral, Betel nut halves and wooden
beads. Both raw edge and turned under appliqué techniques
are used to create the individual cells. As Zachary Gaber
and his fellow researchers pass by this quilt, I hope they will
feel the respect and thankfulness I feel for their dedication
and talent!

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