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The neural crest cells migrate from their origin into many regions of the vertebrate embryo. Upon reaching their terminal destinations, members of this population undergo cytodifferentiation into a wide range of diverse cell types. To follow the early migratory behavior of avian cephalic neural crest cells, neural fold tissue was transplanted orthotopically from a ³H-thymidine-labeled donor into an unlabeled host. The hosts were sacrificed at subsequent stages and the positions of all labeled neural crest-derived cells ascertained radioautographically. Crest cells emigrating from each of three different preotic regions of the brain displayed unique patterns of migration, which are described in detail.

Having established these normal patterns of neural crest cell migration, the following question was posed: Are the unique migratory patterns of the developing neural crest cell population determined within the individual cells …