Nature vs. Nurture in Building the Nervous System

Author: Patterson, Paul H.

Published in: Engineering and Science, Volume 48, Number 3, 1985, pp. 11-18

Part of: Engineering and Science, Volume 48:3, January 1985

Item Category: Feature Articles

Persistent URL: https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechES:48.3.Patterson

Abstract

Are embryonic neurons predestined for a certain identity, or are they influenced in their choice by signals that might perhaps be manipulated by researchers? Recent studies have shown that neurons' chemical identities can indeed be "nurtured," which may have enormous significance in diseases involving premature death of neurons or chemica! imbalances in the brain.

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