Mouse hand plate

Light micrograph of a developing mouse limb showing gene expression in the hand plate. The hand plate is a flattened extension of the limb that will go on to form the hand. The hand plate has been stained using a technique called in situ hybridisation to highlight a gene involved in the development of the hand, the regions highlighted will undergo apoptosis (cell death) to form the digits. This stage of limb development occurs around 12.5 - 13.5 days post fertilization in the mouse.