BMP signaling during gastrulation pre-patterns the dorsal spinal cord

The classic model of dorsal spinal cord patterning proposes that roofplate-derived BMP patterns dorsal interneuron subtypes in a concentration-dependent manner. However, genetic perturbations of BMP pathway components produce variable effects, challenging this model. Here we implemented single-cell profiling, fate mapping, and mosaic perturbations to determine when BMP signaling patterns dorsal neural fates in vivo . Contrary to the classic model, we demonstrate that dorsal fates are patterned by BMP signaling during gastrulation. Following neural tube formation, BMP signaling continues but plays limited roles in domain specification and maturation. Fate mapping revealed that dorsal progenitors originate from the ventral gastrula, adopting BMP-dependent transcriptional states that prime dorsal neural fate. We propose that dorsal neural fates are initially patterned by gastrulation-stage sources of BMP, prior to roofplate induction.