In 2-3 hour old mutant embryos, heat treatment causes half of them to show a lethal phenotype 90 minutes into the recovery period. large areas of DNA aggregation, irregular mitotic figures and degenerating cells are seen. Cells undergo metaphase arrest - many additional metaphase figures are seen. Other cells appear to arrest at G2/M and prophase. Daily induction of Xpdhs.PR leads to a viability of about 14%. This is partly restored to 40% in Df/Xpd+ Xpdhs.PR animals. When Xpdhs.PR overexpression is induced at cycle 13, cells appear to skip mitotic phase 13 and continue with cycle 14.