A cinematographical study of the development of vitally stained Dictyostelium discoideum

We report observations from time-lapse films of the development of Dictyostelium discoideum (Dd) stained with the vital dye neutral red. We have used this dye to enable us to track individual cells, as they move through multicellular tissues in later Dd stages. Our observations lead us to new conclusions about the control of cell movement and cell contact during Dd development, including the tentative conclusion that the aggregation control competences regulate cell behaviour throughout the whole of Dd. development. We are led to specific hypotheses for the mechanisms of later morphogenetic movements and pattern formation.