The 3D-digital models of developing barley caryopses shown here serve several purposes:

• Barley caryopses undergo fast and distinct changes during development. In models the complex  spatial organization  of the caryopses can be studied and demonstrated in detail.  Histological information  on the caryopses e.g. digital images of real sections or rendered views of virtual sections can be accessed via the models.


• Models allow the visualization of   3D-expression patterns.  Results from in-situ hybridizations or immunolocalizations can be integrated into models to visualize 3D-expression patterns. The 3D-distribution of metabolites can be described.


• When a sufficient number of models covers the relevant successive stages of development, changes of spatial expression patterns over time (4D) can be demonstrated. Furthermore 3D-models can be used to establish a database of gene expression patterns.