IBN: 9706830 PI: Peterson The bewildering complexity of the adult central nervous system (CNS) arises through a precisely orchestrated set of events during embryonic development. The subdivision of the CNS into distinct regions early in development is a key part of this overall process. At early stages of embryogenesis the CNS consists of four regions that are precursors to distinct areas of the adult brain and spinal cord. The most anterior region, the forebrain, gives rise to the retina, thalamus, hypothalamus, basal ganglia and cerebral cortex. These areas arise from sub-regions of the embryonic forebrain: the optic vesicles, the diencephalon and the telencephalon. Dr. Peterson is interested in the question of how the sub-regions within the forebrain are specified and how the early development of those sub-regions is regulated. A novel approach that takes advantage of random mutagenesis is being used. Single gene mutations can be isolated and analyzed for their effects on forebrain development. The mutations will provide a valuable resource for identifying key regulatory steps in forebrain development. Mutants that block the formation of the telencephalon, for example, will provide information on how the development of the cerebral cortex and basal ganglia is initiated and regulated.
