Embryos resulting from shkl^GM45 germ-line clones or laid by shkl^GM45/shkl^GM163 mothers have reduced numbers of germ cells compared to wild-type embryos. At cleavage stages in these embryos, the nuclei fail to undergo proper axial expansion and as a consequence fail to reach the termini of the embryo, particularly the posterior. Dividing cleavage stage nuclei in these embryos occasionally show centrosome or chromosome loss, but mitotic synchrony appears undisturbed.