Related Experiment Videos
Progressive acquisition of cortical phenotypes as a mechanism for specifying the developing cerebral cortex
P Levitt1, R T Ferri, M F Barbe
1Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Medical College of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19129.
Perspectives on Developmental Neurobiology
|January 1, 1993
Summary
The cerebral cortex develops through a progressive acquisition of traits, with early genetic factors establishing regions and later environmental influences refining them. This developmental plasticity allows for area-specific phenotypes to be modified during development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Cerebral cortex formation involves intricate neuronal assembly with specific laminar distribution, connectivity, and macromolecular expression.
- Understanding area specification in the developing cortex relies on assaying specific characteristics during development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the progressive acquisition of phenotypic traits during cerebral cortex development.
- To explore the role of genomic-environmental interactions in regulating area-specific phenotypes.
Main Methods:
- Assaying phenotypic features during cortical development.
- Analyzing the temporal onset of trait expression (early histogenesis vs. late onset).
Main Results:
- Certain phenotypic features are acquired early in histogenesis, while others manifest later.
- The progressive acquisition of traits suggests distinct genomic-environmental regulation for each feature.
Conclusions:
- Early cellular commitment to area-specific phenotypes frames cortical regions.
- Later developing traits remain modifiable by environmental factors, highlighting developmental plasticity.