Introduction to Molecular Embryology

by Jean Brachet, Henri Alexandre

Overview

Nearly 10 years have elapsed since I finished writing the first edition of Intro­ duction to Molecular Embryology. During this period, molecular embryology has made great strides forward, but without undergoing a major revolution; there­ fore, the general philosophy and outline of the book have remained almost un­ changed. However, all the chapters had to be almost completely rewritten in or­ der to introduce new facts and to eliminate findings which have lost interest or have been disproved. There was a major gap in the first edition of this book: very little was said about mammalian eggs despite their obvious interest for mankind. Research on mammalian eggs and embryos is so active today that this important topic deserves a full chapter in a book concerned with molecular embryology. Therefore, I am very thankful to my colleague Dr. Henri Alexandre, who has written a chapter on mammalian embryology (Chap. 9) and has prepared all the illustrations for this book.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783540169680
Publisher:	Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Publication date:	12/10/1986
Series:	Heidelberg Science Library
Edition description:	2nd totally rev. and enlarged ed.
Pages:	229
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.02(d)

Table of Contents

I From Descriptive to Molecular Embryology.- II How Genes Direct the Synthesis of Specific Proteins in Living Cells.- III How Eggs and Embryos Are Made.- 1 Theories of Embryonic Differentiation.- IV Gametogenesis and Maturation: The Formation of Eggs and Spermatozoa.- 1 Oogenesis.- 2 Maturation of Xenopus Oocytes.- 3 Spermatogenesis.- V Fertilization: How the Sleeping Egg Awakes.- 1 General Outlook.- 2 The Fertilizin Problem.- 3 Physical and Chemical Changes at Fertilization.- 4 Nucleic Acid and Protein Synthesis.- 5 Parthenogenetic Activation.- 6 Molecular Embryology and Classical Theories of Fertilization.- VI Egg Cleavage: A Story of Cell Division.- 1 General Outlook.- 2 The Biochemistry of Cleavage.- VII Molecular Embryology of Invertebrate Eggs.- 1 Chaetopterus Eggs.- 2 Mollusk Eggs.- 3 Tunicate (Ascidian) Eggs.- 4 Insect Eggs.- 5 Sea Urchins.- VIII Molecular Embryology of Amphibian Eggs.- 1 Respiration of the Amphibian Gastrula and Neurula.- 2 The Nature of the Inducing Substance.- 3 RNA Localization and Synthesis.- 4 The Links Between RNA Synthesis and Morphogenesis.- 5 Size and Mode of Action of the Inducing Agent.- 6 Molecular Basis of Cell Movements.- IX Molecular Embryology of Mammals.- 1 The Biology of Mammalian Sperm.- 2 Molecular Embryology of Mammalian Eggs.- 3 Experimental Embryology of the Preimplantation Stages.- 4 Early Postimplantation Stages.- 5 Interspecific Hybrids and Chimaeras.- X Biochemical Interactions Between the Nucleus and the Cytoplasm During Morphogenesis.- 1 Biology and Biochemistry of the Alga Acetabularia.- 2 Biochemistry of Anucleate Fragments of Eggs.- 3 The Importance of the Nucleus for Embryonic Development.- 4 Biochemistry of Early Developmental Mutants.- 5 “Transgenic” Mice and Teraarcinoma.- 6 Conclusions.- XI How Cells Differentiate.- 1 General Introduction.- 2 Specific Properties of Cell Membranes.- 3 Effects of Tissue Extracts on Cell Differentiation.- 4 Immunological Studies on Embryonic Differentiation.- 5 Enzyme Synthesis and Embryonic Differentiation.- 6 Differentiation of Cultured Embryonic Cells.- 7 Embryonic Differentiation and Cancer.- 8 The Future of Molecular Embryology.- References.- Further Reading.- Author and Subject Index.