A method of differentiating embryonic stem cells into neural and motor
cells is disclosed. In one embodiment, the invention comprises culturing
a population of cells comprising a majority of cells that are
characterized by an early rosette morphology and are
Sox1.sup.-/Pax6.sup.+ in the presence of FGF2, FGF4, FGF8, FGF 9, or RA
wherein the cells are characterized by an neural tube-like rosette
morphology and are Pax6.sup.+/Sox1.sup.+.