Cartesian Genetic Programming for Image Analysis of the Developing Drosophila Eye

Methods of automatic feature extraction attract increasing attention when solving modern image processing problems. Confocal images of the single-layer epithelium of the developing eye of the fruit fly drosophila are a convenient model system for the development of methods for the identification of complex features. The aim of this study was to use Cartesian genetic programming to identify the boundaries of ommatidia, the photosensitive units of the developing eye. The use of Cartesian genetic programming to analyze the expression patterns of the Fasciclin III marker showed good results. This provides interesting prospects for further application of this technology for the automatic analysis of images obtained using confocal microscopy.