Stem cells were recently cited by Science magazine as the scientific breakthrough of the year because of their potential to revolutionize our understanding of the complexities of biological development. In Stem Cells and CNS Development, world renowned authorities in neural stem biology critically review the rapidly emerging findings on this critical class of stem cells, their involvement in neurogenesis and gliogenesis, and the therapeutic implications of these findings. The authors define by consensus the classes of stem cells in the nervous system, compare their similarities and differences, discuss the gains made in identifying human homologs of neural stem cells, and describe how these cells are beginning to be used for therapeutic purposes. Their examination includes all the major issues in stem cell biology, save apoptosis and cell cycle regulators. Comprehensive and cutting-edge, Stem Cells and CNS Development provides all developmental scientists and neurobiologists not only an authoritative account of the current results in neural stem cell research, but also an incisive review of the rapidly emerging therapeutic uses of stem cells.