Cellular 'tug of war' creates the foundation for the embryonic central nervous system
Friday, November 9, 2012 - 08:31
in Biology & Nature
In developing vertebrates, the brain and spinal cord originate from an embryonic structure known as the neural tube. This initially forms as a flat 'neural plate', which subsequently folds around and closes up to form a tubular structure. By performing an extensive series of experiments in developing chick embryos, Masatoshi Takeichi and his team at the RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology, Kobe, has now revealed valuable insights into the mechanism underlying the closure process.