This Side Up: Spatial Determination in the Early Development of Animals

by Robert Wall

Overview

This comprehensive and cogent survey examines the subject of embryonic determination, the set of processes fundamental to animal development by which cells in the early embryo acquire different developmental capabilities. Examining both the classical literature and the newer, molecular findings, the author summarizes the current state of our understanding of determination and poses key questions for the future. He begins with a consideration of how much spatial pattern is already laid down when the egg forms inside the mother, and ends just before the formation of visible organs. Within these limits he also considers evidence obtained by a variety of techniques, both experimental and biochemical, derived from the embryos of a variety of animal groups. This is a suitable text for upper level undergraduates, graduate students and researchers in developmental biology.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521361156
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	07/27/1990
Series:	Developmental and Cell Biology Series , #24
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	450
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 8.98(h) x 1.22(d)

Table of Contents

1. Oogenesis; 2. From oocyte to zygote; 3. Does cleavage cut up a preformed spatial pattern?; 4. The limits of mosaicism in non-spiralian cleavage; 5. Cellular interations in the morula and blastula: the case of sea urchin embryos; 6. Interactions at morula and blastula in other embryos; 7. Interactions between moving cells: the case of amphibian gastrulae; 8. Spatial determination in the gastrulae of other groups; 9. Determination in embryos showing partial cleavage; 10. Patterns and mechanisms in early spatial determination; References; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"...an important addition to the developmental biologist's bookshelves." Science

"...an invaluable source of reference. In particular, the author has helped rescue from oblivion many classical experimental results that have progressively disappeared from textbooks simply because they either could not be approached by contemporary molecular techniques, or simply because they could not be explained by existing theoretical models." Pere Alberch, Quarterly Review of Biology

From the Publisher