Neural Crest Cells Decide Their Fate Before Exiting the Neural Tube
A study using mosaic barcodes and cross-species experiments shows that sensory and sympathetic ganglia arise from distinct neural crest cells before they migrate, overturning decades of belief that cells decide their fate after leaving the neural tube. Most neural crest identities are pre-programmed inside the neural tube, with later migration following a tightly coordinated pattern. The findings have implications for congenital nerve disorders and childhood cancers, and emphasize the importance of early pregnancy health.
