Neurocristopathies in African subjects

The distribution of neural crest cells is briefly reviewed. The behaviour of neural crest derivatives in Africans is different from that seen in Caucasians, both in terms of physiology and pathology. The most obvious variation is in the depth of pigmentation of the skin, but most diseases of neural crest derived tissues show differences between Black and White subjects. The reason for these differences are not readily apparent but appear to be of genetic rather than environmental origin.