Molecular and Cellular Approaches to Neural Development

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This comprehensive and authoritative volume explores recent advances in understanding early neural development at molecular and cellular levels. The authors detail applications of molecular genetic methods in studying neural induction, neuronal phenotypes, and specific connection patterns. They analyze new information from modern techniques for identifying, cloning, deleting, and introducing specific genes, as well as for labeling neuronal or glial precursors and imaging individual neurons or parts of neurons. Chapters highlight the use of various model organisms, including fruit flies, nematode worms, zebrafish, Xenopus frogs, chicks, and mice. The improved conservation of DNA and protein sequences, along with accessible gene and protein databases, allows for rapid identification of gene homologues across species separated by significant evolutionary distances. Several chapters feature collaborations between researchers specializing in vertebrates and invertebrates, illustrating that despite differences in nervous system structure, many molecular players and cellular processes are conserved. This volume is of great practical interest to researchers, graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows in developmental, cell and molecular biology, genetics, and neuroscience.