Fate maps were created with the intent of tracing a specified region during the early developmental transition of an embryo to a distinct body structure. The first fate maps originate in the 1880s. Modern fate mapping began in 1929 when
Walter Vogt invented a process which involved marking a specific region of a developing embryo using a dyed agar chip and tracking the cells through
gastrulation. To achieve this experiment, Vogt allowed dye and agar to dry on a microscope plate, and placed small pieces onto specific embryo locations. As the embryo developed, he repeated this process to analyze the movement of cells. This procedure enabled Vogt to create accurate fate maps, introducing an innovative approach to morphogenesis research. In 1978,
horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was introduced as a more effective marker that required embryos to be fixed before viewing. Fate mapping can also be done through the use of molecular barcodes, which are introduced to the cell by
retroviruses. Genetic fate mapping is a technique developed in 1981 which uses a site-specific
recombinase to track cell lineage genetically. This process does not require manipulating the embryo or the organ. The genetic basis of the labelling guarantees the inheritance of the marker by all offspring originating from the initially labelled cells, overcoming the issue of dilution associated with dye markers during cell division, thus offering high precision and resolution.
stem cell research, and
kidney research. == How fate mapping differs from cell lineage ==