Tiling mechanisms of the Drosophila compound eye through geometrical tessellation.

Tiling patterns are observed in many biological structures. The compound eye is an interesting example of tiling and is often constructed by hexagonal arrays of ommatidia, the optical unit of the compound eye. Hexagonal tiling may be common due to mechanical restrictions such as structural robustness, minimal boundary length, and space-filling efficiency.

DWnt4 and DWnt10 Regulate Morphogenesis and Arrangement of Columnar Units via Fz2/PCP Signaling in the Drosophila Brain.

Columns are structural and functional units of the brain. However, the mechanism of column formation remains unclear. The medulla of the fly visual center shares features with the mammalian cerebral cortex, such as columnar and layered structures, and provides a good opportunity to study the mechanisms of column formation.