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Related Concept Videos

Neurulation01:30

Neurulation

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Neurulation is the embryological process which forms the precursors of the central nervous system and occurs after gastrulation has established the three primary cell layers of the embryo: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. In humans, the majority of this system is formed via primary neurulation, in which the central portion of the ectoderm—originally appearing as a flat sheet of cells—folds upwards and inwards, sealing off to form a hollow neural tube. As development proceeds, the...
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Determination01:51

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During embryogenesis, cells become progressively committed to different fates through a two-step process: specification followed by determination. Specification is demonstrated by removing a segment of an early embryo, “neutrally” culturing the tissue in vitro—for example, in a petri dish with simple medium—and then observing the derivatives. If the cultured region gives rise to cell types that it would normally generate in the embryo, this means that it is specified. In...
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Gastrulation establishes the three primary tissues of an embryo: the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. This developmental process relies on a series of intricate cellular movements, which in humans transforms a flat, “bilaminar disc” composed of two cell sheets into a three-tiered structure. In the resulting embryo, the endoderm serves as the bottom layer, and stacked directly above it is the intermediate mesoderm, and then the uppermost ectoderm. Respectively, these tissue strata...
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The development of lymphatic tissues and vessels in embryonic life begins around the fifth week. These structures originate from the mesoderm layer, with lymph sacs emerging from developing veins.
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Whole Body Regeneration01:33

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Regeneration is the process of restoring injured or lost tissues, organs, or body parts. While simpler organisms generally show greater ability to regenerate their whole body, few complex animals show similarly exceptional regeneration. For example, planarian flatworms have a unique regenerative potential making them a popular study organism among biologists to understand the mechanisms of whole body regeneration. Other organisms, such as hydra, also show extreme regeneration potential;...
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Reticular Dermis01:15

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The papillary and reticular dermis are the two layers of the dermis. They are made of connective tissue with fibers of collagen extending from one to the other, making the border between the two somewhat indistinct. The dermal papillae extending into the epidermis belong to the papillary layer, whereas the dense collagen fiber bundles below belong to the reticular layer.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 23, 2025

Assessing Signaling Properties of Ectodermal Epithelia During Craniofacial Development
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Ancient vertebrate dermal armor evolved from trunk neural crest.

Jan Stundl1,2, Megan L Martik1, Donglei Chen3

  • 1Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|July 17, 2023
PubMed
Summary

Neural crest cells, originating from the trunk, form the bony armor in sterlet sturgeon dermal armor. This finding suggests a broader early role for neural crest cells in vertebrate skeletal evolution.

Keywords:
neural crestscalesskeletonsterlet sturgeonvertebrate evolution

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Last Updated: Jul 23, 2025

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary developmental biology
  • Vertebrate paleontology
  • Skeletal biology

Background:

  • Bone is a defining vertebrate innovation, likely originating in ancestral dermal armor.
  • The developmental origin of this early bone (mesoderm vs. neural crest) remains debated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the developmental origin of bony dermal armor in nonteleost ray-finned fish.
  • To trace the lineage of osteoblasts in sterlet sturgeon scutes.

Main Methods:

  • In vivo lineage tracing in sterlet sturgeon (Acipenser ruthenus).
  • Transcriptional profiling of scutes and scales.
  • Histological and microCT analyses of ray-finned fish dermal armor.

Main Results:

  • Sterlet trunk neural crest cells were definitively shown to generate osteoblasts in scutes.
  • A neural crest gene signature was identified in sterlet scutes and bichir scales.
  • Ray-finned fish dermal armor comprises bone, dentin, and mineralized tissues, resembling early vertebrate armor.

Conclusions:

  • Supports a primitive, body-wide skeletogenic role for neural crest cells in early vertebrates.
  • Suggests neural crest contribution to dermal armor was progressively restricted to the head during evolution.
  • Highlights neural crest as a key evolutionary driver for dermal armor diversification.