NSCI 4101 Midterm Practice Qs Exam
2026 Questions and Answers Graded A+
The organizer tissue...
a. is derived from the ectoderm.
b. produces Wnt molecules that block BMP signaling.
c. lies underneath the future neural plate.
d. more than one of the above are correct - Correct answer-c. lies underneath the
future neural plate
During neural induction, BMP molecules are produced by...
a. future epidermis (skin).
b. mesoderm.
c. endoderm. - Correct answer-a. future epidermis (skin)
Which molecule translocates to the nucleus when BMP binds to its receptor?
a. BMP receptor
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,b. phosphorylated SMADs
c. BMP
d. More than one of the above are correct. - Correct answer-b. phosphorylated
SMADs
Which of the following statements about Wnt signaling is correct?
a. Wnt signaling promotes a rostral neural fate.
b. Wnt binding to its receptors results in degradation of beta-catenin.
c. Soluble (extracellular) antagonists of Wnts are expressed underneath the rostral
forebrain.
d. More than one of the above are correct. - Correct answer-c. Soluble
(extracellular) antagonists of Wnts are expressed underneath the rostral forebrain.
Which of the following statements about secondary organizers is correct?
a. They are all formed outside of the CNS.
b. They contribute to the formation of distinct brain regions.
c. They all produce the same set of morphogens.
d. None of the above is correct - Correct answer-b. They contribute to the
formation of distinct brain regions.
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,Which of the following statements about hindbrain segmentation is NOT correct?
a. Distinct rhombomeres generate a unique set of sensory and motor neurons.
b. Formation of distinct rhombomeres require signals from the isthmus and
somites.
c. All Hox genes are expressed in all rhombomeres.
d. All of the above statements are correct. - Correct answer-c. All Hox genes are
expressed in all rhombomeres.
Cortical hem:
a. is formed in the medial-caudal region of the cerebral cortex.
b. secretes transcription factors like Emx2 and Coup-TF1.
c. regulates the graded expression of downstream transcription factors like Emx2
and Coup-TF1.
d. More than one of the above are true. - Correct answer-d. More than one of the
above are true.
Which of the following is NOT true about Sonic hedgehog (Shh):
a. It is produced by cells in the floor plate.
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, b. It is more highly concentrated in the dorsal neural tube than in the ventral neural
tube
c. In embryonic neural tube, more ventrally expressed genes require higher
concentrations of Shh.
d. More than one of the above are NOT true. - Correct answer-b. It is more highly
concentrated in the dorsal neural tube than in the ventral neural tube
What features are shared between neuroepithelial cells and radial glial cells in
rodent cerebral cortex?
a. divide symmetrically.
b. divide at the ventricular surface.
c. have processes that reach the pial surface.
d. More than one of the above are shared between the two cell types. - Correct
answer-d. More than one of the above are shared between the two cell types.
Intermediate progenitor cells:
a. divide asymmetrically and generate one neuron and one intermediate progenitor
cell.
b. divide symmetrically and generate two neurons.
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2026 Questions and Answers Graded A+
The organizer tissue...
a. is derived from the ectoderm.
b. produces Wnt molecules that block BMP signaling.
c. lies underneath the future neural plate.
d. more than one of the above are correct - Correct answer-c. lies underneath the
future neural plate
During neural induction, BMP molecules are produced by...
a. future epidermis (skin).
b. mesoderm.
c. endoderm. - Correct answer-a. future epidermis (skin)
Which molecule translocates to the nucleus when BMP binds to its receptor?
a. BMP receptor
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,b. phosphorylated SMADs
c. BMP
d. More than one of the above are correct. - Correct answer-b. phosphorylated
SMADs
Which of the following statements about Wnt signaling is correct?
a. Wnt signaling promotes a rostral neural fate.
b. Wnt binding to its receptors results in degradation of beta-catenin.
c. Soluble (extracellular) antagonists of Wnts are expressed underneath the rostral
forebrain.
d. More than one of the above are correct. - Correct answer-c. Soluble
(extracellular) antagonists of Wnts are expressed underneath the rostral forebrain.
Which of the following statements about secondary organizers is correct?
a. They are all formed outside of the CNS.
b. They contribute to the formation of distinct brain regions.
c. They all produce the same set of morphogens.
d. None of the above is correct - Correct answer-b. They contribute to the
formation of distinct brain regions.
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,Which of the following statements about hindbrain segmentation is NOT correct?
a. Distinct rhombomeres generate a unique set of sensory and motor neurons.
b. Formation of distinct rhombomeres require signals from the isthmus and
somites.
c. All Hox genes are expressed in all rhombomeres.
d. All of the above statements are correct. - Correct answer-c. All Hox genes are
expressed in all rhombomeres.
Cortical hem:
a. is formed in the medial-caudal region of the cerebral cortex.
b. secretes transcription factors like Emx2 and Coup-TF1.
c. regulates the graded expression of downstream transcription factors like Emx2
and Coup-TF1.
d. More than one of the above are true. - Correct answer-d. More than one of the
above are true.
Which of the following is NOT true about Sonic hedgehog (Shh):
a. It is produced by cells in the floor plate.
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, b. It is more highly concentrated in the dorsal neural tube than in the ventral neural
tube
c. In embryonic neural tube, more ventrally expressed genes require higher
concentrations of Shh.
d. More than one of the above are NOT true. - Correct answer-b. It is more highly
concentrated in the dorsal neural tube than in the ventral neural tube
What features are shared between neuroepithelial cells and radial glial cells in
rodent cerebral cortex?
a. divide symmetrically.
b. divide at the ventricular surface.
c. have processes that reach the pial surface.
d. More than one of the above are shared between the two cell types. - Correct
answer-d. More than one of the above are shared between the two cell types.
Intermediate progenitor cells:
a. divide asymmetrically and generate one neuron and one intermediate progenitor
cell.
b. divide symmetrically and generate two neurons.
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