In stage 10+ wun2^EP2650; Scer\GAL4^{nos.UTR.T:Hsim\VP16} embryos, the pole cells are more dispersed than in wild-type. wun2^EP2650; Scer\GAL4^twi.PG embryos show pole cell death at stage. This phenotype is partially suppressed by the additional presence of Scer\GAL4^{nos.UTR.T:Hsim\VP16}.

Expression of wun2^EP2650 under the control of Scer\GAL4^{nos.UTR.T:Hsim\VP16} results in defects in germ cell migration in embryos. At stage 11, germ cell migration appears normal, but by stage 15 many germ cells are found outside the gonad, indicating that they have nor migrated properly. This phenotype is seen in about 30% of embryos. Germ cell migration is normal in embryos derived from homozygous wun2^EP2650 parents (in the absence of a Scer\GAL4 driver). Expression of wun2^EP2650 under the control of both Scer\GAL4^twi.PG and Scer\GAL4^how-24B results in a strong and completely penetrant germ cell migration phenotype; the germ cells are repelled from their normal target tissue (mesoderm) and instead remain on the midgut. The number of germ cells is reduced in these embryos.