Hilde Mangold: Original microscope slides and records of the gastrula organizer experiments

Abstract

The discovery of the amphibian gastrula organizer and its publication by Hans Spemann and Hilde Mangold in 1924 is a foundation of experimental embryology, and has shaped our understanding of embryonic induction and pattern formation in vertebrates until today. The original publication is a piece of scientific art, characterized by the meticulous hand drawings by Hilde Mangold, as well as the text that develops mechanistic concepts of modern embryology. While historic microphotographs of specimens got lost, the original microscope slides and Hilde Mangold's laboratory notebook have been secured in embryological collections until today. Here, we make the original data of the six embryonic specimens reported in 1924, as well as the laboratory notebook, available in an accessible digital format. Together, these data shed light on the scientific process that led to the discovery, and should help to make the experiments on the most important signalling center in early vertebrate development transparent for generations of embryologists to come.