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Controlling neuron number: does Numb do the math?

Numb is an important developmental protein that functions in fate determination, differentiation and cell maturation, but its role in mammalian neural progenitors has been controversial. A new paper uses a clever approach to attempt to reconcile the opposing views.

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Figure 1: Opposing views of Numb and Numblike function in maintaining progenitor status or promoting neural fate during asymmetric cell division in mammals.

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Castañeda-Castellanos, D., Kriegstein, A. Controlling neuron number: does Numb do the math?. Nat Neurosci 7, 793–794 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn0804-793

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