Zic2 is a C2H2 zinc finger transcription factor that influences forebrain development. Zic2 is a transcriptional repressor and may regulate tissue specific expression of dopamine receptor D1. Zic2 transcript is abundant in the dorsal neural tube spinal cord, and in the hindbrain. A polyhistidine tract polymorphism in this gene may be associated with increased risk of neural tube defects. This gene is closely linked to a gene encoding zinc finger protein of the cerebellum 5, a related family member on chromosome 13.