Developmental Biology: A Very Short IntroductionFrom a single cell - a fertilized egg - comes an elephant, a fly, or a human. How does this astonishing feat happen? How does the egg 'know' what to become? How does it divide into the different cells, the separate tissues, the brain, the fingernail - every tiniest detail of the growing foetus? These are the questions that the field of developmental biology seeks to answer. It is an area that is closely linked to genetics, evolution, and molecular biology. The processes are deeply rooted in evolutionary history; the information is held in genes whose vital timings in switching on and off is orchestrated by a host of proteins expressed by other genes. Timing is of the essence. Here, the distinguished developmental biologist Lewis Wolpert gives a concise account of what we now know about development, discussing the first vital steps of growth, the patterning created by Hox genes and the development of form, embryonic stem cells, the timing of gene expression and its management, chemical signalling, and growth. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable. |
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activity adult ageing animals antero-posterior axis axon become blood body bone brain cancer cause cell division changes chick chromosome cleavage complex concentration connections contains continue cytoplasm death determined developmental differentiation digits direction disc divide early ectoderm embryo endoderm evolution example expression extension fate female fertilized Figure flower formation frog function gastrulation genes genetic germ cells give rise grow growth head Hox genes humans identity important increase individual initially interactions internal involved known later layer leads limb limb bud males mammals mechanism meristem mesoderm migrate molecules mouse move muscle mutations neural tube neurons normal nucleus occurs organism particular pattern plant polarizing positional positional values posterior present produced proteins provides regeneration region result shape signals similar single specialized specified sperm stage stem cells structures surface tissue transcription factors undergo ventral vertebrate wing zone