Neurons are formed from neural stem cells through a process called temporal patterning, where different types of neurons are produced at different times.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
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Neural Stem Cells: These are specialized cells with the ability to self-renew and differentiate into various types of neural cells, including neurons.
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Temporal Patterning: This is the key mechanism that dictates which type of neuron is produced by a neural stem cell at a given time. It involves the sequential expression of different molecules.
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Temporal Transcription Factors (tTFs): These are proteins that regulate gene expression within neural stem cells. Each tTF is active during a specific time window and controls the expression of genes that determine the identity of the neuron being produced during that time. As time progresses, different tTFs are expressed, leading to the generation of different types of neurons. The reference indicates that by expressing different temporal transcription factors (tTFs), neural stem cells produce different neurons.
In essence, neural stem cells act as a "factory" that produces different types of neurons in a specific sequence, guided by the temporal expression of different tTFs. These tTFs control the expression of specific genes, leading to the formation of neurons with distinct characteristics and functions.
