Embryos laid by bebGM29/bebGM50 mothers have reduced numbers of germ cells compared to wild-type embryos. There is no obvious defect in axial expansion, cortical migration, or synchrony of nuclear divisions in cleavage stage embryos laid by bebGM29/bebGM50 mothers. Embryos resulting from bebGM50 germ-line clones have reduced numbers of germ cells compared to wild-type embryos.