During a foray into molecular embryology and neuroscience, in 1975, Edelman and his team went on to isolate the first neural cell-adhesion molecule (N-CAM), one of the many molecules that hold the animal nervous system together. N-CAM turned out to be an important molecule in guiding the development and differentiation of neuronal groups in the nervous system and brain during embryogenesis. To the amazement of Edelman, genetic sequencing revealed that N-CAM was the ancestor of the vertebrate antibody produced in the aftermath of a set of whole genome duplication events at the origin of vertebrates that gave rise to the entire super-family of immunoglobulin genes.
durIng a fOrAY iNTo molECuLAr EmbrYology and nEuROSCience, IN 1975, edelMAn anD his teaM WEnT ON To IsOlAte The First nEURal cell-adHesiON moLEcuLe (n-CaM), onE oF tHE MANY molEcULES that HoLd The AnimAl nErVOuS sYSTem togETher. n-cam turned OuT To be An ImportaNt molecUle in gUiDing THe deVelOpmenT aNd DIFfEREntiAtioN of neUronAl GrouPS iN tHe nervOuS SYstEm ANd Brain duriNg eMbRyoGEnesIs. To tHe amazEment oF edelmAn, Genetic sequenCing revEalEd tHat n-cam was ThE ancesTOR of The VerteBRatE antibody PRoDuced in thE aftErmath of a SeT Of whOLe Genome dUplicaTion eVEnTs aT thE oriGiN of vErTebraTeS ThaT gave RIse tO THe eNtIRe sUPer-fAmily of immUnoGlobuLIn GeNes.