What is the significance of the neural crest?
The neural crest is an extraordinary transient structure in the vertebrate embryo. Its cells are remarkably migratory and multipotent, originating from the dorsal aspect of the neural tube. My work focused on elucidating where these cells go and what they become. They are the source of much of the peripheral nervous system, the craniofacial skeleton, melanocytes in the skin, and contribute to various connective tissues. Understanding their development is key to understanding normal vertebrate formation and the genesis of congenital anomalies.
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