In about one out of every 1,000 pregnancies, the neural tube, a key nervous system structure, fails to close properly.

How does the neural tube close? A new study uses physics-based modeling to reveal the actin "purse-string" mechanism and cellular coordination that prevents spina bifida.

The quail is a small, unassuming bird that glides rather than flies and prefers to hide under bushes than to perch on top of ...

Precursor cells in the embryonic neural tube are organized in a specific striped pattern which depends on the signals they receive (left). Lehr and colleagues recreated this pattern in a cell culture ...

Their findings, recently reported in the journal Nature, overturn longstanding assumptions in developmental biology and could change the way scientists think about treatments for a variety of ...

Neural tube defects, such as Spina bifida, are one of the leading congenital disorders (affecting about one in 1,000 live ...

Neurodevelopment involves the brain's formation of systems responsible for learning, memory, social skills, and overall function. Critical neurodevelopmental processes such as neurogenesis, synaptic ...

Folic acid, the synthetic form of vitamin B9, is a quiet hero in reproductive health, especially for women planning or capable of pregnancy. It plays a vital role in preventing neural tube defects, ...

Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on . One study found a reduced risk for neural tube defects when folic acid was used before and during pregnancy. The ...

Millions of neurons branch throughout our bodies, keeping them in close communication with our brains. This peripheral network begins to take shape long before birth, as the cells of a growing embryo ...