Shared regulatory programs suggest retention of blastula-stage potential in neural crest cells

Abstract

From blastula to neural crest, do not pass go During vertebrate development, neural crest cells give rise to an unusual diversity of cells, including pigment cells, neurons, and cartilage. Traditionally, neural crest cells have been considered a derivative of neural ectoderm. Buitrago-Delgado et al. now show that neural crest cells have components of the molecular programs characteristic of blastula cells from earlier in development (see the Perspective by Hoppler and Wheeler). Blastula cells have the broad range of developmental potentials necessary to build the embryo. Neural crest cells may thus reflect persistence of the developmental programs characteristic of early development rather than re-specification of developmental programs after differentiation into neurectoderm. Science , this issue p. 1332 ; see also p. 1316