Fig. 2

Hydrogel plugs with yeast cells expressing ymNeongreen. A Inner cross-sections of the hydrogel plugs after overnight incubation in 1.5 ml of deionized water, 1.5 ml of medium, or 15 ml of medium. Graphs under the micrographs denote mean cell density, with each grey point averaging one-pixel-wide column and a black line outlining the moving average. B Micrographs of the yeast microcolonies at the edge and center of the plugs. C Superstructures formed by merging several microcolonies at the edge of the media-incubated plugs. D Surface of the uncut media-incubated plug. E Inner cross-section of the air-exposed plug. Scale bars: 1 mm in A, D, and E, and 20 µm in B and C