Embryo Cam

What should I do if I am not sure what I am looking at?
Biology can be incredibly complex and variable and you will not always be sure of whether a feature is, or is not, what you are looking at. However, this is not a problem. Have a look at an appropriate field guide to see if this helps you. Follow your instinct and remember that if unsure you can always select this as an option.

What if the image resolution is too low to identify a feature or behaviour?
To enable our images to be accessed by as many people as possible we have had to reduce the file size and therefore the image quality of some of our subjects. If you feel the image or video you are looking at is too blurry and is causing you to feel unsure, you can navigate to the next question or select the 'unsure' option where appropriate.

What if I make a mistake?
Don't worry! We all make mistakes, it wouldn't be called research if we got it perfect every time. If you realise you have made a mistake after clicking 'Done' and submitting your answer unfortunately you cannot go back and change it. However, we hope to collect enough data that the mistakes do not effect our final model. Keep going!

What do I do if my tools are not working?
Some users have reported a system error which prevents them from using certain drawing tools. If this happens, please message us on the talk board 'Somethings wrong' and we will respond to you as quickly as we can.

Friend or Foe? #parasites
Lots of users have shown great interest in the tiny micro life buzzing around the developing snail embryos in some of our video footage. These animals are NOT parasites but passive members of the freshwater ecosystem known as meiofauna. To learn more about freshwater meiofauna we suggest checking out these sources:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/meiofauna
https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Freshwater_Meiofauna.html?id=BZ3wAAAAMAAJ&redir_esc=y

Why should I care about developing pond snails?
The process of embryonic development is ubiquitous and here we have chosen a pond snail as it is a great model for testing and developing technologies, but is also an important species in terms of how environments function. Much of the research and technology development that you are supporting is transferrable to different types of application - from monitoring water quality near industrial outflows, through to using embryos to identify new candidates for drug testing. The possibilities here are very broad and exciting.

What are these embryos?
These embryos are aquatic pond snails - a species called Radix balthica, or the wandering pond snail. They are an excellent species for understanding impacts of climate change as they have a wide distribution from Spain to Iceland and develop as embryos within transparent egg capsules. Snail are invertebrates and so they are not a protected species for scientific research in the UK. Therefore, they are not covered by the Animal Scientific Procedures Act (1986).

How can I learn more about embryonic development?
Engage with us on the 'Talk' feature. We are scientists and love talking about what we do. You can also checkout our Vimeo Channel and Github page Embryo Phenomics.