Brain malformations

Question 1

What makes the development of the human brain unique?

Answer 1

1) Neural stem/progenitor cell expanision
2) Lateral dispersion of neurons

Question 2

Describe the terms apical and basal in relation to brain structure

Answer 2

Apical: Inner most part
Basal: Facing the skull

Question 3

What are the four key steps of brain development?

Answer 3

1) Neural tube closure
2) Neural stem/progenitor cell expansion
3) Neuronal differentiation
4) Neuronal migration

Question 4

What causes spina bifida?

Answer 4

Defects in neural tube closure

Question 5

What is, and what causes primary microcephaly?

Answer 5

A smaller brain caused by defects in neural progenitor proliferaiton.

Bonus: MCPH genes (mainly centrosomal and mitotic spindle proteins).
Zika virus can also cause this

Question 6

What pathway is important for apical radial glial (aRG) differentiation?

Answer 6

Pax6.
It upregulates Trb2, that is important for bIP and bRG. Trb2 downregulates Pax6, so bIP and bRG does not differentiate ‘backwards’.
Trb2 also upregulates genes related to neurogenesis

Question 7

What group of genes are involved in neuronal migration?

Answer 7

Genes related to the cytoskeleton