NEUROGENESIS IN THE INSECT CENTRAL-NERVOUS-SYSTEM

Recent advances provide an increasingly sophisticated understanding of Drosophila CNS development. First, genes have been identified that sp ecify unique neuroblast cell fates. Second, neuroblasts have been foun d to use a novel mechanism for asymmetric localization of proteins int o one daughter cell at mitosis. Third, a gene controlling the choice b etween glial/neuronal determination has been discovered. And finally, new cell-lineage methods are being used to determine the entire lineag e of identified neuroblasts, including axon projections and synaptic c ontacts.