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Bergter’s image was captured as part of her PhD thesis on muscle development of annelid worms like the earthworm. Microscopy and documentation of different embryonic stages is the only way right now to obtain data from a variety of species, and therefore is the most important and powerful tool for Bergter’s work. The image shows the stained nervous system and ciliary bands of a small marine worm. The intense staining allows the overall architecture of the nervous system to be determined.

To capture this image, Bergter used laser scanning mircroscopy, depth coding the 3D information resulting in the variety of colors. Data resulting from this method may help to reveal evolutionary changes within the animal kingdom, and therefore might help to better understand evolution.

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