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Updated: Jan 6, 2026
Tracking and Quantifying Developmental Processes in C. elegans Using Open-source Tools
Published on: December 16, 2015
MitoTrack, a user-friendly semi-automatic software for lineage tracking in living embryos
A Trullo1, J Dufourt1, M Lagha1
1Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, University of Montpellier, CNRS-UMR 5535, 1919 Route de Mende, Montpellier 34293 cedex 5, France.
Motivation:
During development, progenitor cells undergo multiple rounds of cellular divisions during which transcriptional programs must be faithfully propagated. Investigating the timing of transcriptional activation, which is a highly stochastic phenomenon, requires the analysis of large amounts of data. In order to perform automatic image analysis of transcriptional activation, we developed a software that segments and tracks both small and large objects, leading the user from raw data up to the results in their final form.
Results:
MitoTrack is a user-friendly open-access integrated software that performs the specific dual task of reporting the precise timing of transcriptional activation while keeping lineage tree history for each nucleus of a living developing embryo. The software works automatically but provides the possibility to easily supervise, correct and validate each step.
Availability And Implementation:
MitoTrack is an open source Python software, embedded within a graphical user interface (download here).
Supplementary Information:
Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
