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Generation of cell diversity and segmental pattern in the embryonic central nervous system of Drosophila
Author(s) -
Technau Gerhard M.,
Berger Christian,
Urbach Rolf
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.20566
Subject(s) - biology , neuroectoderm , neuroblast , embryonic stem cell , cell type , nervous system , neural cell , neural stem cell , neuroscience , neural development , microbiology and biotechnology , anatomy , cell , stem cell , gene , genetics , neurogenesis , mesoderm
Development of the central nervous system (CNS) involves the transformation of a two‐dimensional epithelial sheet of uniform ectodermal cells, the neuroectoderm, into a highly complex three‐dimensional structure consisting of a huge variety of different neural cell types. Characteristic numbers of each cell type become arranged in reproducible spatial patterns, which is a prerequisite for the establishment of specific functional contacts. The fruitfly Drosophila is a suitable model to approach the mechanisms controlling the generation of cell diversity and pattern in the developing CNS, as it allows linking of gene function to individually identifiable cells. This review addresses aspects of the formation and specification of neural stem cells (neuroblasts) in Drosophila in the light of recent studies on their segmental diversification. Developmental Dynamics 235:861–869, 2006. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.