title: Introduction: invertebrate axons find their way.
abstract: The mechanisms that generate the immense complexity of synaptic connections within the developing nervous system have fascinated biologists for decades. Analysis of nervous system development in simple systems, such as insects, has made a major contribution to our understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms that control the formation of axon pathways and precise connections. This enterprise has a long, interesting, and somewhat controversial history. This collection of reviews on axon guidance in insects provides a brief update to integrate current molecular and developmental insights in a number of areas from initial axon pathfinding to the recognition of synaptic partners.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. Davie@hms.harvard.edu
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Van Vactor
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Lorenz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics; D007313:Insecta / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics; D009420:Nervous System / Q000196:embryology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000196:embryology