Eddy DeRobertis Laboratory

Two signaling centers present in the blastula-stage Xenopus embryo. An early b-catenin signal on the dorsal side induces the blastula Chordin- and Noggin-expressing (BCNE) center (in green) and the Nieuwkoop center (black). Transplanted BCNE center cells give rise to the brain, shown in the 6-day tadpole on the right by grafting transgenic cells marked with green fluorescent protein.

See Kuroda, H., Wessely, O., and Robertis, E.M. 2004. PloS Biology 2:623–633.