imaging a cocoon with MRI

[NewtChris]

P.S. I have access to a very large generation of Cecropia coccons,  recently
pupated.   I'd be very happy to donate some if you need research material.

At the moment, sinse it is prior to the first killing frost,  you could call it
Time 0 for these individuals, or at least I would in an MRI experiment.

I believe there is very little change in the tissue composition of the newly
pupated cocoons until spring.   I believe the tissue probably remains in a
stasis until the stimulous of the metamorphasis cascade is triggered.  After
that, rapid developmental changes occur to the cells and the adult is rapidly
formed from a cellular soup of pre-metamorphisis stem cells.  

Any MRI observations might prove very valuable in detailing this process of
development.  (once every 4-8 hours over 5-10 days maybe) I haven't heard of it
being done.  But with the technology becoming available... it will be.  Why not
be the first?

All and all, a very exciting proposal.  I searched the literature myself and
could not find anything. Of course that doesn't mean it's not there. 

All and all, the Worst that might happen is you see nothing,  the Best is that
you find new insights into organ development in arthropods that is applicable
to vertabrates, leading to cellular targets that then lead to gene discoveries
that might help in tissue then organ cloning and give someone back a healthy
cloned heart one day!!!!  

HaHaHa... you never know, and you can always dream:)

Anyways... 
 
Good luck, 

Chris

Newtchris at aol.com 
or
chonan at sbrco.com