CELL AND MOLECULAR
NEUROBIOLOGY FINAL EXAM
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
notochord originates from the - Correct Answers -mesoderm
which cells are multipotent? - Correct Answers -neural crest cells
cyclins regulate - Correct Answers -cell division and proliferation
3 transcription factors expressed by neural progenitor cells? - Correct Answers -Hes1,
Ascl1, Olig2
which tissue secretes factors that induce neural plate formation during early
development - Correct Answers -mesoderm
length of progenitor cycle - Correct Answers -increases during development
which cell type is not generated by NCCs? - Correct Answers -ependymal cells
mammalian cortex has how many layers - Correct Answers -6
homeotic genes encode - Correct Answers -transcription factors
Morphogen - Correct Answers -signaling molecule produced locally, secreted, and
acting at a distance in a concentration dependent manner to specify the fate of a target
cell or tissue.
Shh - Correct Answers -Morphogen secreted by the notochord that specifies the ventral
part of the neural tube
BMP and Wnt - Correct Answers -Morphogens secreted by the epidermis that specify
the dorsal part of the neural tube
Transcription factor - Correct Answers -Protein that regulates the expression of target
genes by binding to specific DNA elements called enhancers. Not secreted like
morphogens.
, Otx2 and Gbx2 - Correct Answers -Homeodomain transcription factors that pattern the
midbrain/hindbrain border along the anterior-posterior axis
Hox proteins - Correct Answers -Transcription factors that pattern the hindbrain
rhombomeres
GliA - Correct Answers -Transcription factor activated in response to Shh that patterns
the neural tube along the dorsal-ventral axis
Oligodendrocytes - Correct Answers -Glial cells that myelinate axons in the CNS.
Originate from progenitors in the neural tube.
Schwann cells - Correct Answers -Glial cells that myelinate axons in the PNS. Originate
from NCCs derived from the neural plate borders
Neural induction - Correct Answers -The specification of the neural tissue during early
development. During neural induction, cells from the ectoderm acquire a neural fate and
form the neural plate
Chordin, noggin, follistatin - Correct Answers -Initiate neural fate from mesodermal cells
that have migrated under the ectoderm. Prevent the secreted factor activin from
triggering a signaling transduction pathway that specifies ectodermal cells as epidermal.
By secreting these factors, the mesoderm prevents ectodermal cells from becoming
epidermal cells and instead induce their neural fate.
co-culture assay - Correct Answers -an explant of neurons are cultured next to cells
engineered to secrete the factor of interest. If neurons migrate towards the cells, then
the factor they secreted is attractive. If neurons migrate away, then the factor is
repulsive.
Sema3A - Correct Answers -Can either be an attractive or repulsive guidance cue
depending on the context and the type of neurons it acts upon. Secreted by cajal-retzius
cells in the marginal zone and attracts the excitatory neurons migrating along the
process of progenitors, as it promotes migration of the neurons and provides a
directional cue. In contrast to its role in the developing cortex, Sema3A secreted from
the striatum repels cortical inhibitory neurons migrating from the MGE and prevents
them from entering the striatum
Neuronal polarization - Correct Answers -Process of breaking symmetry in the newly
born neuron to allow the formation of the axonal and dendritic compartments. The
polarity of microtubules is bidirectional in all neurites prior to polarization. During
polarization, microtubules become unidirectional in the nascent axon, with the minus
end oriented towards the cell body and the plus end oriented towards the growth cone
Neurons - Correct Answers -Process and transmit info through electrical and chemical
signals
NEUROBIOLOGY FINAL EXAM
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
notochord originates from the - Correct Answers -mesoderm
which cells are multipotent? - Correct Answers -neural crest cells
cyclins regulate - Correct Answers -cell division and proliferation
3 transcription factors expressed by neural progenitor cells? - Correct Answers -Hes1,
Ascl1, Olig2
which tissue secretes factors that induce neural plate formation during early
development - Correct Answers -mesoderm
length of progenitor cycle - Correct Answers -increases during development
which cell type is not generated by NCCs? - Correct Answers -ependymal cells
mammalian cortex has how many layers - Correct Answers -6
homeotic genes encode - Correct Answers -transcription factors
Morphogen - Correct Answers -signaling molecule produced locally, secreted, and
acting at a distance in a concentration dependent manner to specify the fate of a target
cell or tissue.
Shh - Correct Answers -Morphogen secreted by the notochord that specifies the ventral
part of the neural tube
BMP and Wnt - Correct Answers -Morphogens secreted by the epidermis that specify
the dorsal part of the neural tube
Transcription factor - Correct Answers -Protein that regulates the expression of target
genes by binding to specific DNA elements called enhancers. Not secreted like
morphogens.
, Otx2 and Gbx2 - Correct Answers -Homeodomain transcription factors that pattern the
midbrain/hindbrain border along the anterior-posterior axis
Hox proteins - Correct Answers -Transcription factors that pattern the hindbrain
rhombomeres
GliA - Correct Answers -Transcription factor activated in response to Shh that patterns
the neural tube along the dorsal-ventral axis
Oligodendrocytes - Correct Answers -Glial cells that myelinate axons in the CNS.
Originate from progenitors in the neural tube.
Schwann cells - Correct Answers -Glial cells that myelinate axons in the PNS. Originate
from NCCs derived from the neural plate borders
Neural induction - Correct Answers -The specification of the neural tissue during early
development. During neural induction, cells from the ectoderm acquire a neural fate and
form the neural plate
Chordin, noggin, follistatin - Correct Answers -Initiate neural fate from mesodermal cells
that have migrated under the ectoderm. Prevent the secreted factor activin from
triggering a signaling transduction pathway that specifies ectodermal cells as epidermal.
By secreting these factors, the mesoderm prevents ectodermal cells from becoming
epidermal cells and instead induce their neural fate.
co-culture assay - Correct Answers -an explant of neurons are cultured next to cells
engineered to secrete the factor of interest. If neurons migrate towards the cells, then
the factor they secreted is attractive. If neurons migrate away, then the factor is
repulsive.
Sema3A - Correct Answers -Can either be an attractive or repulsive guidance cue
depending on the context and the type of neurons it acts upon. Secreted by cajal-retzius
cells in the marginal zone and attracts the excitatory neurons migrating along the
process of progenitors, as it promotes migration of the neurons and provides a
directional cue. In contrast to its role in the developing cortex, Sema3A secreted from
the striatum repels cortical inhibitory neurons migrating from the MGE and prevents
them from entering the striatum
Neuronal polarization - Correct Answers -Process of breaking symmetry in the newly
born neuron to allow the formation of the axonal and dendritic compartments. The
polarity of microtubules is bidirectional in all neurites prior to polarization. During
polarization, microtubules become unidirectional in the nascent axon, with the minus
end oriented towards the cell body and the plus end oriented towards the growth cone
Neurons - Correct Answers -Process and transmit info through electrical and chemical
signals
