Gene Expression And Cell Cell Interactions In The Developing Nervous System

Gene Expression and Cell-Cell Interactions in the Developing Nervous System

The dramatic advances in molecular genetics are becoming incorporated into neurobiologic studies at an ever increasing rate. In developmental neurobiology, the importance of cell cell interactions for neurogenesis and gene expression is be ginning to be understood in terms of the molecular bases for these interactions. This book seeks to emphasize the importance of molecular technology in the study of neurogenetic mechanisms and to explore the possible relationships between specific cell cell interactions and regulated gene expression in the develop ing nervous ~stem. This volume consists of nineteen chapters which address ques tions of gene expression and the importance of cell-cell interac tions as key factors in the developing nervous ~stem. Rather than viewing these two processes as separate mechanisms, as the organi zation of these chapters might suggest, we would like to emphasize the interplay of these genetic and epigenetic influences in all phases of neural ontogeny, a concept which is made clear by the subject matter of the contributions themselves. The authors of these chapters were participants in selected ~mposia from the Fourth Congress of the International Society of Developmental Neuroscience held in Salt Lake City, Utah, July 3-7, 1983.

Gene Expression and Cell-Cell Interactions in the Developing Nervous System

Cell Interactions in Visual Development

The eye has fascinated scientists from the earliest days of biological in vestigation. The diversity of its parts and the precision of their interaction make it a favorite model system for a variety of developmental studies. The eye is a particularly valuable experimental system not only because its tissues provide examples of fundamental processes, but also because it is a prominent and easily accessible structure at very early embryonic ages. In order to provide an open forum for investigators working on all aspects of ocular development, a series of symposia on ocular and visual devel opment was initiated in 1973. A major objective of the symposia has been to foster communication between the basic research worker and the clinical community. It is our feeling that much can be learned on both sides from this interaction. The idea for an informal meeting allowing maximum ex change of ideas originated with Dr. Leon Candeub, who supplied the nec essary driving force that made the series a reality. Each symposium has concentrated on a different aspect of ocular development. Speakers have been selected to approach related topics from different perspectives.