MidExDb provides access to gene expression
data in the Drosophila CNS midline cells. The expression
of 286 genes was examined and cataloged throughout embryonic development
using in situ hybridization and immunostaining (Kearney
et al. 2004 ). Additionally, the expression of 77 of these genes has
been examined using multi-label fluoresecence confocal microscopy and assigned to specific midline cell
types (Wheeler et al. 2006). The CNS midline cells are an excellent system
for studying neurogenesis, gliogenesis, and transcriptional control due to the large number
of identified genes and expression patterns combined with the ability to
identify individual neuronal and glial cells during
embryonic development.