Role of the Neural Crest in Vertebrate Development and Evolution - Part 2: The Role of the Neural Crest in Head Development and in Vertebrate Evolution (30:04)

Nicole Le Douarin shares her research on the role of the neural crest in skeletal development. The Q/C (quail/chick)... » More

Nicole Le Douarin shares her research on the role of the neural crest in skeletal development. The Q/C (quail/chick) marker system revealed that apart from the peripheral nervous system (PNS), the melanocytes and some endocrine tissues, the NC plays a major role in the construction of the vertebrate head. The entire facial skeleton and part of the skull (frontal, squamosal, parietal bones) are of NC origin together with the connective tissues of the face and ventral part of the neck. The contribution of the NC to the heart and blood vessel wall (except for the endothelial cells) was also demonstrated. This led Gans and Northcutt (1983) to propose that the NC played a critical role in the evolution of Vertebrates. « Hide