Evolutionary Conservation Of Mechanisms For Neuronal Regionalization, Proliferation And Interconnection In Brain Development

Main Category: Neurology / Neuroscience
Also Included In: Genetics;  Biology / Biochemistry;  Veterinary
Article Date: 28 Aug 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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Comparative studies of different aspects of brain development in vertebrates and invertebrates reveal remarkable similarities in expression and function of key developmental control genes.

Indeed, vertebrates and invertebrates share a complex set of control genes and molecular genetic interactions that are responsible for neural induction, regionalized patterning, progenitor proliferation, and circuit formation in the developing brain.

This suggests that many of the molecular mechanisms involved in building the brains of extent bilaterians may already have been present in their common urbilaterian ancestor.

Royal Society journal Biology Letters

Biology Letters publishes short, innovative and cutting-edge research articles and opinion pieces accessible to scientists from across the biological sciences. The journal is characterised by stringent peer-review, rapid publication and broad dissemination of succinct high-quality research communications.

Biology Letters