How initial explant size affects spreading rate of tissue explants from Axolotl embryos

Large scale tissue movements are an integral part of early development. In order to understand the forces that drive this motion, I investigated the initial size-dependence of the spreading rate of tissues explanted from Axolotl (Ambystoma Mexicanum) embryos. We did this by cutting a tissue explant and then plating it on glass, the tissue spreads similarly to how it would in an intact embryo. Testing variously sized explants allows us to determine the effect of the initial amount of total material on how fast tissues spread. Our preliminary analysis shows that explants with a larger initial size spread faster than explants with a smaller initial size, suggesting that limits in available material may reduce the rate that tissues can spread.