neuroblast vs. neuronal progenitor

[Doug howe]

In this case, I think I will delay any action along these lines until it 
can be given the proper attention it deserves.  This is a complex issue 
fraught with developmental timing issue which we should try to avoid...

I guess the crux of the issue to figure out is whether or not all three 
of the following exist and what they might be called:
1.  a relatively unspecialized cell that is only capable of becoming a 
neuron of one type or another (neuroblast? neuronal progenitor?)
2.  a relatively unspecialized cell that is only capable of becoming a 
glial cell of one type or another (glioblast? glial progenitor?)
3.  a relatively unspecialized cell that is only capable of becoming 
either a neuron or glial cell of one type or another (neuroblast? 
neuron-glial progenitor?)

-Doug


Nicolas Le Novère wrote:
> I am not entirely sure about that (mostly because I'm writting that
> looking at telly during an advert break in the middle of Farenheit 9/11.
> Pretty hard to concentrate on anything else), but I think neuroblasts are
> definitely progenitors of both neurons AND glial cells. I.e. neuronal
> precursors form a paraontogenic group (based on paraphyletic). I am almost
> sure of that for Bergman glia.
>
>   
>> Would everyone agree if I were to suggest that all GO terms that have
>> "neuroblast" in the term name also have an exact synonym using the term
>> "neuronal progenitor"?
>>
>> Eg.
>> "neuroblast differentiation" would get an exact synonym of "neuronal
>> progenitor differentiation".
>>
>> Likewise, I would like to suggest a new term on SourceForge for
>> "glioblast differentiation" with the exactly synonym "glial progenitor
>> differentiation".
>>
>> I realize that sometimes a single cells can pass through a stage during
>> which it is a progenitor capable of generating neurons and glia in some
>> cases..but I think this is OK..maybe we could even have a term like
>> "neuro-glial progenitor differentiation" to represent differentiation of
>> this type of cell?
>>
>> What do you think?
>>
>> -Doug
>>
>>     
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