Cours: Neurogenesis and Development

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Questions and Answers

What is the default developmental pathway for cells in the animal cap during pregastrulation?

Formation of the mesoderm

Formation of the neural tube (correct)

Formation of the endoderm

Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling

What is the name of the structure responsible for inducing the formation of a second body axis in transplantation experiments by Mangold and Spemann?

Neural Crest

Neural Plate

Hensen's Node (correct)

Animal Cap

What is the primary function of the neural tube during embryonic development?

Gives rise to the peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Forms the heart and blood vessels

Forms the digestive system

Gives rise to the central nervous system (CNS) and parts of the PNS (correct)

What is the process that leads to the formation of the neural tube from the neural plate?

Neurulation (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors is NOT a crucial aspect of neural development in terms of timing?

Gastrulation (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of Notch signaling in neural precursor cell development?

Notch signaling prevents cell commitment by inhibiting proneural gene expression. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following cell types are derived from the same progenitor pool?

Oligodendrocytes and Motoneurons (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the French Flag Model in cell differentiation?

The model explains how cells in a field can acquire different fates based on their position. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a direct effect of Notch activity?

Activation of γ-secretase (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the key principle behind lateral inhibition in neural precursor development?

Cells inhibit each other's differentiation, ensuring that only a specific number of cells commit to a neural fate. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the transient mesodermal structure that induces the formation of the floor plate?

Notochord (D) Signup and view all the answers

What two signaling molecules are involved in the dorso-ventral patterning of the neural tube?

Shh and BMP (D) Signup and view all the answers

What type of genes specify compartments along the anterior-posterior axis of the neural tube?

Hox genes (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the Mid-Hindbrain Boundary (MHB) in brain development?

It patterns the anterior-posterior axis of the brain. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the Facial Nerve (VII)?

Muscles controlling facial expression and taste from the anterior tongue (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of the ventral spinal cord?

Expression of class II homeodomain genes (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the Trigeminal Nerve (V)?

Sensation from the face, mouth, and mastication (D) Signup and view all the answers

How does mutual repression contribute to pattern formation in the neural tube?

It allows for the formation of sharp boundaries between different cell fates. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the Zona Limitans Intrathalamica (ZLI) in brain development?

It patterns the anterior-posterior axis of the brain. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of cranial nerves?

They are involved in the development of the spinal cord. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the process called where cells in the ventricular zone of the neural tube produce more cells?

Proliferation (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of these factors play a role in determining whether a cell division is symmetric or asymmetric?

The activity of SNAREs (B) Signup and view all the answers

During embryonic development, how does the length of the progenitor cell cycle change?

It increases as development progresses (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary mechanism by which neuroepithelial cells move during interkinetic nuclear migration?

Active migration along the apical-basal axis (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is considered a specialized area in the nervous system where cell proliferation occurs?

The ventricular zone (B) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Neurogenesis Overview

Neurogenesis is the process of neuronal development
Stages: Proliferation, Differentiation, migration, axon pathfinding, synapse formation, circuit formation, maturation, cell death, and pruning.
Key stages are listed in their specific order of occurrence in development, and in the context of the neural tube.

Proliferation

Cell multiplication is the primary process of proliferation
Stem cells multiply, a key aspect of neurogenesis

Gastrulation

Gastrulation is a critical process that produces the three germ layers (ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm) in a developing embryo, including avian and amphibian embryos.
Key features include cleavage furrow, blastoderm, yolk area opaca and pellucida, cleavage furrow, blastula, and early and late gastrula stages.
Three germ layers and their origins are key to gastrulation

Neurulation

Neurulation, following gastrulation, generates the neural tube.
The neural plate folds into a neural groove, and eventually fuses to form a tube, which will develop into the central nervous system (CNS).

Embryonic Development in Chicken Embryos

Chicken embryos are useful models for studying embryonic development due to their accessibility within the egg.
Key developmental landmarks, such as brain, heart, eyes, wing buds, leg buds, and tail buds can be identified.

Neural Development as Default Pathway

Cell dissection highlights that neuronal development is the default outcome for cells in the early embryo in the absence of cues to direct cell fate.
BMP proteins and bone morphogenic proteins are critical to this default pathway

Timing in Development

Developmental timing is crucial, and developmental processes are highly regulated.
Specific periods in development, such as pregastrula and gastrula stages are key in specifying cell fate.

Neural Development is the Default Pathway

Neural development is the initial trajectory of specific cell groups

Lateral Inhibition Defines Number of Neural Precursor Cells

Lateral inhibition is a cell signaling process that accurately determines the number of cells adopting a specific neural progenitor cell lineage.
This process plays a role in limiting the amount and type of cell lineages that form.

Notch Signaling

Notch signaling regulates cell fate decisions.
In particular, it regulates proliferation and differentiation outcomes of precursors

Hox Genes and Compartments

Hox genes establish compartments along the anterior-posterior axis during development.
These genes are highly conserved, meaning their function and structure is similar across species, including animal models that have been used to understand mammalian development.

Patterning the Nervous System and Longitudinal Axis

The longitudinal axis and patterning of the nervous system are organized by Hox genes and their expression patterns.
Specific structures along the longitudinal axis and their positions are specified by particular gene expression and location.

Cranial Nerves

A list of cranial nerves and their functions are included

Compartments and their Boundaries in Vertebrate Brain Development

Boundaries during brain development and compartments are regulated

Organization of the Longitudinal Axis

Hox gene expression patterns dictate organization along the longitudinal axis
Specific Hox gene expression patterns occur in a particular order from anterior to posterior, resulting in organization and structure along the longitudinal axis.

The Notochord

The notochord is a transient mesoderm structure.
It is significant for patterning the neural tube during development

The Notochord is Required to Induce the Floor Plate

The notochord is essential for inducing the floor plate.
The notochord's absence or manipulation can lead to abnormalities in floor plate formation.

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Description

This quiz covers the essential processes of neurogenesis, including proliferation, differentiation, and neurulation. Explore the stages involved in neuronal development and the significance of gastrulation in embryonic development. Test your understanding of these foundational concepts in biology.