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Development – Intro to Differentiation! Lecture 8-1, May 17 Goals:

You can:

1. Explain how vertebrate brain and spinal cord are still a “tube”

2. Predict the outcome when the neural tube fails to close during neurulation

3. Define differentiation and changing cell fate potential levels

4. Explain how differences in cell fate potential explain regeneration in plants and animals as well as “cloning” technology

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Your brain and spinal cord are still tubes!

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Neural Tube Defects – example: Spina Bifida

POTENTIAL CAUSES:

www.cdc.gov

PREVALENCE: EFFECTS: - PARALYSIS - INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY - DEATH

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ALL women of childbearing age are encouraged to take folic acid supplements – even if you aren’t planning a pregnancy. Why might this the case?

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Plants vs. Animals in cell fate commitment:

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Mitoh and Yusa (2021) Current Biology

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Mammalian Cloning:

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Variety Magazine, 2018

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1997: Dolly the sheep – first mammal cloned – in Scotland in 1997 2015: Ken and Henry (pet dogs) – company in South Korea - $100,000 2017: "For only $50,000, this Texas company will clone your pet" – Washington Post headline 2018: "Barbra Streisand: Why I Cloned My Dog" 2020: First clones of endangered animals – a black-footed ferret and a Przewalski’s horse - ViaGen Today: ViaGen Pets - $50K for dogs, $35K for cats, $85K for horses