Editing Thalamus (section)

===Early brain development===
After [[neurulation]], the early developmental stage ([[primordium]]) of the [[prethalamus]] and the thalamus is induced within the [[neural tube]]. Data from different vertebrate model organisms support a model in which the interaction between two [[transcription factor]]s, Fez and Otx, is of decisive importance. Fez is expressed in the prethalamus, and functional experiments show that Fez is required for prethalamus formation.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1242/dev.02585 |title=Zinc-finger genes Fez and Fez-like function in the establishment of diencephalon subdivisions |year=2006 |last1=Hirata |first1=T. |journal=Development |volume=133 |issue=20 |pages=3993–4004 |pmid=16971467 |last2=Nakazawa |first2=M |last3=Muraoka |first3=O |last4=Nakayama |first4=R |last5=Suda |first5=Y |last6=Hibi |first6=M|doi-access=}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1242/dev.02705 |title=Patterning the zebrafish diencephalon by the conserved zinc-finger protein Fezl |year=2007 |last1=Jeong |first1=J.-Y. |last2=Einhorn |first2=Z. |last3=Mathur |first3=P. |last4=Chen |first4=L. |last5=Lee |first5=S. |last6=Kawakami |first6=K. |last7=Guo |first7=S. |journal=Development |volume=134 |pages=127–36 |pmid=17164418 |issue=1|doi-access=free}}</ref> Posteriorly, [[OTX1]] and [[OTX2]] abut the expression domain of Fez and are required for proper development of the thalamus.<ref>{{cite journal |pmid=9342056 |year=1997 |last1=Acampora |first1=D |last2=Avantaggiato |first2=V |last3=Tuorto |first3=F |last4=Simeone |first4=A |title=Genetic control of brain morphogenesis through Otx gene dosage requirement |volume=124 |issue=18 |pages=3639–50 |journal=Development|doi=10.1242/dev.124.18.3639}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1242/dev.001461 |title=Otx1l, Otx2 and Irx1b establish and position the ZLI in the diencephalon |year=2007 |last1=Scholpp |first1=S. |last2=Foucher |first2=I. |last3=Staudt |first3=N. |last4=Peukert |first4=D. |last5=Lumsden |first5=A. |last6=Houart |first6=C. |journal=Development |volume=134 |issue=17 |pages=3167–76 |pmid=17670791|pmc=7116068 |doi-access=free}}</ref>