Glossary
Differentiation
A series of changes that occur in cells and tissues during development, resulting in their specialization.
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Dikkopf
Binds to Wnt co-receptors causing endocytosis and antagonising Wnt signalling.
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Dorsal midline
A location in the embryo, a structure at the dorsal midline is at the centre of the future back (dorsum) of the organism. The area in which the neural tube develops.
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E-cadherin
Calcium dependant cell adhesion molecules that are expressed in the embryo and in adult epithelial tissue.
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Ectoderm
The outermost of the three primary germ layers of an embryo, from which the epidermis, nervous tissue, and, in vertebrates, sense organs develop.
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Ectopic
Expressed in a position in which that gene or structure is not normally present.
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Embryo
An organism in its early stages of development, especially before it has reached a distinctively recognizable form or at any time before full development birth or hatching.
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Encephaloceles
Refers to defects in the development of the neural tube. The tube fails to close completely during development of the fetus, resulting in portions of the brain and its surrounding membranes that protrude from the skull in sac-like formations.
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Endoderm
The innermost of the three primary germ layers of an animal embryo, developing into the gastrointestinal tract, the lungs, and associated structures.
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Engrailed 2
A homeodomain transcription factor, it is expressed in a caudal-to-rostral gradient in the developing midbrain.