Morphogenetic effects of evans blue and of zinc ions in embryos of Lytechinus variegatus.

Morphogenetic effects of evans blue and of Zn++ in Lytechinus variegatus embryos are described. Viable unhatched maximally-animalized embryos were induced with 4.2 X 10(-5) M evans blue and with 4-8 X 10(-4) M ZnCl2. Hatching inhibition was reversed only with ZnCl2 suggesting that Zn++ is the preferred animalizing agent in this sea urchin species.