part of develops from embryonic optic lobe primordium embryonic/larval optic lobe somatic stem cell anterior ectoderm derivative optic lobe neuroepithelial cell 2017-01-30T17:06:45Z Symmetrically-dividing stem cell with epithelial properties and a columnar morphology that is a precursor to an optic neuroblast (Egger et al., 2007). These cells increase in number by symmetric divisions during embryonic and larval development (Egger et al., 2007). A small number differentiate into optic neuroblasts during the embryonic stage, while the remainder enter G0 quiescence prior to larval hatching (Hakes et al., 2018). Divisions resume in the first instar (Hakes et al., 2018), followed by differentiation to neuroblasts mainly during the third instar stage (Yasugi et al., 2008). VFB:FBbt_00111738 FBbt:00111738 fly_anatomy.ontology optic lobe NE cell