SnapShot: Neural Crest

The neural crest is a transient population of cells that emerges from the neural tube during the early stages of embryonic development. Neural crest cells are unique to vertebrates and have properties similar to stem cells, including the ability to differentiate into many cell types (i.e., multipotency) and to regenerate. Neural crest cells migrate extensively throughout the embryo and then differentiate to give rise to most of the cells in the peripheral nervous system and the facial skeleton. Because of their multipotency and regenerative ability, neural crest cells recently have garnered great attention for their potential use in stem cell-based therapies. In this SnapShot, we describe key regulatory events involved in neural crest formation, differentiation, and migration during early stages of vertebrate development.