Ambient effects on neural stem cells: Insights from Drosophila

Figure 1 Developmental timeline of the Drosophila central nervous system and neural stem cell activity. The Drosophila central nervous system (CNS) arises from neural stem cells (NSCs) across developmental stages (embryonic, larval, and adult). NSC development progresses through five phases: Initiation, proliferation, quiescence/reactivation, secondary proliferation and termination. During embryogenesis, CNS NSCs delaminate from the neuroepithelium and undergo asymmetric divisions. Quiescent NSCs (smaller in size) reactivate during the larval stage, leading to glial niche remodeling. Terminating NSCs shift to symmetric divisions. GMC: Ganglion mother cell; NB: Neuroblast.