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During evolution the vertebrate head has acquired a number of unique features including specialized paired sense organs and cranial sensory ganglia. These evolutionary novelties arise from discrete thickenings of the head ectoderm known as cranial placodes. They include the adenohypophyseal, olfactory, lens, trigeminal, profundal, otic, epibranchial and lateral line placodes. While distinct in the derivatives and cell types they will form, all cranial placodes originate from a common preplacodal domain surrounding the anterior neural plate. Recent evidence suggests that the induction of this pre-placodal domain and its subsequent subdivision into individual placodes with specific identities is a multi-step process. Here we describe the development of these placodes and their derivatives and summarize recent advances in the characterization of the repertoire of transcription factors underlying their development. We also review recent studies that have started to address the role of several classes of signaling molecules in placode induction and segregation, including Bone Morphogenetic Proteins, Fibroblast Growth Factors and Wnt molecules.

Developmental biology. --- Cell Differentiation --- Embryonic Development --- Bone and Bones --- Embryonic Structures --- Germ Layers --- Body Patterning --- Cell Communication --- Morphogenesis --- Embryonic and Fetal Development --- Skeleton --- Anatomy --- Musculoskeletal System --- Cell Physiological Phenomena --- Reproduction --- Growth and Development --- Phenomena and Processes --- Physiological Processes --- Embryonic Induction --- Skull --- Neural Crest --- Ectoderm --- Reproductive Physiological Phenomena --- Physiological Phenomena --- Reproductive and Urinary Physiological Phenomena --- Neural crest --- Placodes --- Evolution. --- Placodes. --- Head --- Developmental Biology. --- Cell Differentiation. --- Head. --- Differentiation. --- cranial placode --- otic --- lens --- olfactory --- adenophypophyseal --- lateral line --- profundal --- trigeminal --- epibranchial --- sensory --- transcription factor --- Six --- Eya --- Pax --- Bmp --- Fgf --- Wnt