Final answer:
During embryonic development, a cadherin switch to N-cadherin is crucial for ectodermal cells to form neural tissue, with growth factors and proteins like Wnt signaling and fibronectin guiding cell differentiation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process of organogenesis in vertebrates involves critical steps that lead to the formation of the neural system. Within the ectoderm, a switch from E-cadherin to N-cadherin is essential for the formation of neural tissue. The ectodermal cells make a decision to differentiate into either epidermal cells or neural cells based on signals from growth factors. Some cells at the edge of the ectoderm are signaled to become epidermal cells, while the remaining cells at the center form the neural plate. The differentiation is further influenced by Wnt signaling and the secretion and interaction with fibronectin, which lead to an orderly sequence of gene expressions and membrane protein synthesis enabling the development of various tissues.