Asymmetric localization of germline markers Vasa and Nanos during early development in the amphioxus Branchiostoma floridae

► Vasa/Nanos gene products are components of the vegetal pole plasm in amphioxus eggs. ► Vegetal pole plasm is inherited by a single blastomere during cleavage. ► Vegetal pole cytoplasm is required for the formation of PGCs in amphioxus embryos.