Analysis of Transcripts in the Fly Cell Atlas Reveals Additional Cell Populations in the Drosophila melanogaster...

The Drosophila ovary serves as a powerful model system for epithelial morphogenesis. In this study we analyzed previously unidentified ovarian epithelial cells from the Fly Cell Atlas dataset. We identified eight transcriptionally distinct clusters and annotated six of them, including follicle cell developmental stages 9, 10A, and 10B/11. Two additional clusters remain only weakly identified. This work facilitates future use of the ovarian Fly Cell Atlas by providing validated developmental stage markers and filling critical gaps in follicle cell annotation.