Forebrain development: From neural plate to cortical specification

我们大脑中最复杂的部分叫做前脑，它构成了大脑的两个半球。它由胚胎中一组非常简单的细胞发育而来，将简单的结构转变为复杂的人类大脑半球的事件尚不清楚。然而，当其中一个或多个事件没有发生时，就会导致轻度或严重的精神发育迟缓。因此，了解这些事件是什么，以及它们如何塑造我们的大脑是非常重要的。这项研究计划旨在确定导致脊椎动物前脑形成的关键事件。它还试图发现创造我们哺乳动物大脑固有复杂性的特定步骤。理解这些步骤将展示解决智力障碍的新方法，并为干细胞再生疗法提供新的工具。

The most complicated part of our brain is called the forebrain and forms the cerebral hemispheres. It develops from a very simple group of cells in the embryo and the events that transform the simple structure into the complex human cerebral hemispheres are not well understood. However, when one or many of these events are not taking place, it leads to mild or severe mental retardations. Understanding what these events are and how they shape our brain is therefore very important. This programme of research aims to identify the key events that lead to forebrain formation in vertebrates. It also seeks to discover the particular steps that create the complexity inherent to our mammalian brain. Understanding these steps will show new ways to approach mental retardation and give new tools for stem cell regenerative therapies.