he biological sciences are dominated by the idea that cells are the functionally autonomous, physically separated, discrete units of life. TThis concept was propounded in the 19th century by discoveries of the cellular structuring of both plants and animals. Moreover, the ap parent autonomy of unicellular eukaryotes, as well as the cellular basis of the mammalian brain (an organ whose anatomy for a long while defied attempts to validate the idea of the cellular nature of its neurons), seemed to provide the final conclusive evidence for the completeness of *cell theory', a theory which has...

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...

This is the first comprehensive review and discussion of meiosis, the antithesis of fertilization. Meiosis is a special form of nuclear division "invented" by sexually reproducing eukaryotes to ensure that a correct chromosome complement is maintained over successive generations. In this masterly treatment, the author describes the scheduling, mechanisms, biochemistry and the genetic control of the events of meiosis in sexual systems as well as the variants adopted by subsexual forms. This will be an essential text for upper division students and research workers in genetics, cytology and...

In Neuronal Growth Cones, Phillip Gordon-Weeks explores the molecular biology of the behavior of growth cones, conical-like endings of the growing axon. He covers the basic morphology and behavior of growth cones, motility and neurite extension via the growth cone cytoskeleton, pathfinding, intracellular signaling, and synaptogenesis. A detailed, critical analysis of all aspects of growth cone biology, this incisive reference is an essential work for advanced graduate students, postgraduates, and researchers in cellular and molecular neuroscience, developmental biology, and anatomy.

The central thesis of this book is that Volvox and its unicellular and colonial relatives provide a wholly unrivaled opportunity to explore the proximate and ultimate causes underlying the evolution from unicellular ancestors of multicellular organisms with fully differentiated cell types. A major portion of the book is devoted to reviewing what is known about the genetic, cellular and molecular basis of development in the most extensively studied species of Volvox: V. cateri, which exhibits a complete division of labor between mortal somatic cells and immortal germ cells. However, this topic...

The chapters in this book are centered around the structure of tissues, an intermediate and neglected level between overt morphology and biochemistry, and will be of great interest to all those engaged in attempting to understand the principles behind plant development. The author's purpose is to predict what should be looked for on a molecular level so as to account for observable forms. Each chapter deals with a defined problem such as the role of hormones as correlative agents, tissue polarization, apical meristems and cell lineages. The final chapter develops an alternative approach to...

This book attempts to trace the long history of some of the major ideas in the field and gives an account of our current knowledge of animal cytokinesis. It contains descriptions of division in different kinds of cells, as well as the proposed explanations of the mechanisms underlying the visible events. Experiments devised to test cell division theories are described and explained. The forces necessary to deform animal cells to the degree shown in cytokinesis now appear to originate from the interaction of linear polymers and motor molecules that have roles in force production and in the...

This book contains both an extensive philosophical commentary on this dichotomy in views and an exposition of the type of theory most favored by physical scientists. In this theory, living form is a manifestation of the dynamics of chemical change and physical transport or other physics of spatial communication. The Reaction-diffusion theory as initiated by Turing in 1952 and elaborated by Prigogine, Gierer, Meinhardt, and others is discussed in detail. In some respects the book takes up the theme that "the things we see in the cell are less important than the actions we recognize in the...

This description of a model system for cell differentiation and organogenesis is written by one of the foremost researchers in the area. The main emphasis is on the mammalian kidney, but the book also deals with the development of the transien excretory organs. It includes discussions of induction, proliferation, early cytodifferentiation and morphogenesis and organogenesis. This authoritative account will be valuable to developmental biologists and also to scientists working in paediatric nephrology. As it gives the background of normal development and of control systems, it will also be of...

This description of a model system for cell differentiation and organogenesis is written by one of the foremost researchers in the area. The main emphasis is on the mammalian kidney, but the book also deals with the development of the transien excretory organs. It includes discussions of induction, proliferation, early cytodifferentiation and morphogenesis and organogenesis. This authoritative account will be valuable to developmental biologists and also to scientists working in paediatric nephrology. As it gives the background of normal development and of control systems, it will also be of...