The acquisition of neural fate in the chick

Neural development in the chick embryo is now understood in great detail on a cellular and a molecular level. It begins already before gastrulation, when a separation of neural and epidermal cell fates occurs under the contol of FGF and BMP/Wnt signalling, respectively. This early specification becomes further refined around the tip of the primitive streak, until finally the anterior- posterior level of the neuroectoderm becomes established through progressive caudalization. In this review we focus on processes in the chick embryo and put classical and more recent molecular data into a coherent scenario. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.