Cell autonomy of DSCAM function in retinal development

► Conditional allele developed to test DSCAM cell autonomy. ► DSCAM‐mediated processes were genetically separated and are distinct. ► Dscam regulates developmental cell death and spacing in a dose dependent manner. ► DSCAM deficient cells induce mutant phenotype on adjacent homotypic wild type cells. ► DSCAM mediates arborization and spacing by acting within cell types.