Embryonic chimaeras with tissue-specific characteristics were created through the transplantation of gastrula cells in zebrafish. This groundbreaking experiment involved the manipulation of embryonic cells to generate organisms with distinct tissue types originating from different genetic sources.

The process began by isolating gastrula cells, which are pluripotent cells capable of differentiating into various tissue types. These cells were carefully extracted from donor zebrafish embryos at the gastrula stage, when the cells are still undifferentiated and possess the potential to develop into any tissue.

Next, the isolated gastrula cells were transplanted into recipient zebrafish embryos at the same developmental stage. The transplantation process involved delicately injecting the donor cells into specific regions of the recipient embryos, ensuring that the cells would integrate and develop into the desired tissue types.

Over time, the transplanted gastrula cells underwent differentiation and began to develop into distinct tissue types within the recipient embryos. This resulted in the creation of chimaeric zebrafish embryos, where different tissues originated from different genetic sources.

The researchers carefully monitored the development of these chimaeric embryos, observing the formation of tissue-specific characteristics. For example, some embryos exhibited chimaeric hearts, where one part of the heart originated from the donor cells and another part from the recipient cells. Similarly, other embryos displayed chimaeric nervous systems, muscles, or other tissue types.

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