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Brain organoids are small stem cell-derived, self-organizing models of specific brain regions that offer researchers new ways to study the human brain. Since their scientific debut over ten years ago, brain organoids have been used to generate tractable new bioengineered tools for understanding functional interconnectivity of the human brain, dysfunction involved in many neurodegenerative diseases, and certain molecular mechanisms underlying cognition. Despite this field's considerable scientific promise, advances in human brain organoid research also raise novel philosophical questions and ethical concerns around the use of complex human brain models and the ethical boundaries that should exist when manipulating increasingly realistic bioengineered brain constructs. As researchers generate more realistic organoids in vitro that resemble human brains, it is critically important to understand what ethical boundaries may exist and where researchers and regulators should draw the line for research, both to reduce uncertainties over which projects to pursue in the lab and to address future concerns regulators and the public may harbor about whether this research, if left unexamined, could inadvertently undermine public trust in science. This proposed book delves into ongoing and proactive ethical discussions among ethicists and the neuroscientists involved with this cutting-edge work. Its ultimate goal is to foster greater awareness, understanding, and guidance for future management of ethical issues that may be unique to new areas of brain organoid research. This volume is the result of a close partnership between ethicists and scientists, each informing the other through a collaborative process of joint bioethical deliberation.

This is a unique book containing comprehensive coverage of pluripotent stem cell therapies for the treatment of diabetes. The greatest enthusiasm for treatment lies in the possibility of using stem cells to overcome the limits of islet transplantation. Organized into six parts, this book covers the development and differentiation of beta cells, bioengineering, immunoescape, preclinical model and translational approaches, beta cell replacement, and disease modeling. This is an ideal book for scientists, researchers, and clinicians working in the area of stem cell technology in the treatment of diabetes.

This volume covers recent developments on the role, composition, and functional significance of intercellular and interorganellar transfer. It highlights the involvement of intercellular and interorganellar transfer in cell and developmental biology, differentiation, pathogen dissemination, shaping the genetic makeup of organisms, and the development of various diseases. Animals and plants evolved different communication mechanisms and transfer of molecules and organelles between cells and between organelles within the individual cells. Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) in animals, discovered as recently as 2004, and their functional equivalent in plants, plasmodesmata, discovered over 100 years ago, are the membranous bridges that mediate the transfer of organelles, membrane patches, vesicles, DNA/RNA, and different molecules between cells. In addition, there are other means of transfer and communication between the cells, such as cytonemes, airinames, extracellular vesicles (exosomes), and others. Variations in cytoskeletal composition, morphology, modality, and connected cells suggest that these structures play a role in development, establishment of cell fate, progenitor cell differentiation, cell reprogramming, ferroptosis, generation of cancer stem cells, and various diseases. The exchange of intact membrane patches (trogocytosis) between cells of the immune system may modify the immune response. Additionally, the transfer of genetic information between nucleus and organelles and cells of different species can shape the species and evolutionary outcome. Viral and bacterial pathogens can hijack the inter-cellular transfer routes to spread more efficiently. Cell-to-cell transfer of animal and plant pathogens can also occur by the virological synapse (VS). These specialized pathogen-induced structures share similarities and differences with neurological and immunological synapses.

This book describes transcription factors in the context of hematopoietic development and reveal mechanistic insights how they orchestrate specific gene expression patterns. Several examples from lymphoid and myeloid lineages are given as well as particular examples of leukemia fusion proteins that contain a part of a transcription factor. In the given chapters covering each one particular example, the function of transcription factors is characterized in normal as well as leukemic contexts. New technologies such as ChIP-Seq or RNA-Seq, that make use of genome-wide sequencing, have shown that such master regulators of blood cell development often work in combinatorial fashion and, when dysregulated, results in leukemogenesis. This book is not only intended for experts but it should also be a useful resource for younger scientists or scientists from other disciplines, who may use this book as a stimulating starting point for further discoveries and/ or translational endeavors.

This textbook gives an insight into the importance of cell migration in health during development, wound healing and immune responses as well as in disease with particular focus on cancer. The reader will learn about the different ways cells migrate to allow cellular changes during development to occur, as well as responses to injury and threat by foreign invaders. Cell migration is a driver of invasion and ultimately metastasis in cancer and as such we will give examples from highly aggressive cancer such as brain tumours. The book also includes an introduction to mathematical modelling to predict cell migration, information on the development of software for analysis of data generated in 2D and 3D as well as recent developments in the investigations into cell migration using 3D bioprinting. This textbook will be a great learning tool for advanced undergraduate students and Master students with the relevant science degrees such as in cell biology, developmental biology, cancer research, and tumour biology.

In this next volume in the Cell Biology and Translational Medicine series, we continue to explore the potential utility of stem cells in regenerative medicine. Amongst topics explored in this volume are various aspects of stem cell commitment, differentiation and organogenesis in both health and cancer. Amongst the diverse areas covered are those exploring stems cells in relation to wound healing and their use in treatment of wound healing and different cancers. Other topics include genome editing, regulation of metabolism, immune cells, and algae in medicine. One goal of the series continues to be to highlight timely, often emerging, topics and novel approaches that can accelerate stem cell utility in regenerative medicine.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the molecular basis of developmental and stem cell regulation. It revisits some of the classical models of developmental biology and puts them in context with the findings of modern stem cell research and developmental biology. Biomedical research is embarking on a new era due to new tools, which are exemplified by stem cell technologies, single-cell transcriptome analysis, and live imaging at a single-cell resolution. Publications based on cutting-edge technologies do often not provide the readers with deep biological backgrounds. This causes the risk that precious data are reduced to highly specific descriptions without sufficient biological contexts.Contemporary developmental biology on the other hand as written in many textbooks, is to a significant extent based on conceptions backdated many decades ago, and is not necessarily supported by recent findings. Yet, the prevailing classical notions tend to mislead modern biomedical researches.This book not only presents current models for developmental processes but also reinterprets and re-evaluates classic observations, thus linking classical and modern worlds of developmental biology. Spanning from molecular mechanisms to highly embryological matters it provides a bridge between these different disciplines.Written for advanced students of developmental and stem cell biology, researchers and teaching scholars, this book provides a new road map to modern developmental biology and stem cell biology.

Organizers in Development, Volume 157 in the Current Topics in Developmental Biology series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on topics such as The organizer: what it meant, and means, to developmental biology, Organizers/signaling regions that pattern the limb, Organizers/signaling regions in the branchial arches, The notochord/floor plate as a possible organizer, Transport and gradient formation of Wnt and Fgf in the early zebrafish gastrula, and more. - Provides the authority and expertise of leading contributors from an international board of authors - Presents the latest release in the Current Topics in Development Biology series - Updated release includes the latest information on Organizers in Development

This book addresses the structural and biological properties of the extracellular matrix component and glycosaminoglycan polymer hyaluronan (or hyaluronic acid, HA).The book discusses various aspects of HA biology, e.g., HA synthesis and degradation, as well as the role of HA in embryogenesis, development, and cell maintenance. The reader will learn about the role of HA in different tissues as well as its biological activities triggered by the interaction with different HA receptors. A closer look is had at the involvement of HA in human pathologies such as cancer, kidney fibrosis and wound healing. Biotechnological and biomedical applications for HA such as scaffold generation and drug delivery, including the novel synthetic sulphated HA are explored.This work will appeal to a wide readership within the extracellular matrix and hyaluronan field. It can serve as an introduction to the field for junior scientists but can also help senior scientists to gain a broader view of the field beyond their area of specialization.The series Biology of Extracellular Matrix is published in collaboration with the American Society for Matrix Biology and the International Society for Matrix Biology.

This book gives a current overview on the development, origin, structure, and functions of germline and somatic cell syncytia during embryogenesis and organogenesis. It also reviews pathogen-induced syncytia and the role of syncytial cells in cancer development.The book covers the following topics:germline syncytia, evolution, function and structure; syncytia in embryogenesis and development; the role of somatic cell fusion in fungi, specialized somatic tissues, host defense and adaptation; syncytia induced by viruses and parasites;syncytia and circulating hybrid cells in cancer and other pathological conditions; It also discusses how the genomic adaptations of microorganisms to extreme habitats can prompt the evolution of mononuclear and multinucleate/syncytial cells. The book offers a fresh outlook on syncytia's role in various processes: embryogenesis, organogenesis, adaptation, host defense, and development of specialized tissues. It highlights the importance of syncytia under physiological and pathological conditions.

In diesem Band berichten die Autoren aus führenden Labors, die sich mit Stammzelltheranostik beschäftigen, über die neuesten Fortschritte auf dem Gebiet der Stammzellforschung. Das Buch befasst sich mit vielen Aspekten der stammzellbasierten Therapie und den Fortschritten in der Stammzelltherapie bei Leber-, Augen- und Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen sowie bei Krebs. Dieser Band ist eine Fortsetzung der von Prof. Khawaja Husnain Haider bereits herausgegebenen Bücher zur stammzellbasierten Therapienostik. Es ist ein ideales Buch für Forscher, die sich mit der Entwicklung von Arzneimitteln sowie mit regenerativer Medizin und stammzellbasierter Therapie beschäftigen. Die sekundäre Zielgruppe umfasst Medizinstudenten, Ärzte, Zellpharmakologen, die Arzneimittelindustrie und Forscher, die Stammzellen als Ex-vivo-Krankheitsmodelle für die Arzneimittelentwicklung verwenden.

The book provides a comprehensive overview of classic and modern approaches of centrosome research, including new aspects of centrosome functions focusing on primary cilia and their implications in numerous diseases. In addition, several chapters raise awareness of centrosomes in areas that have not yet fully considered the centrosome as an organelle that impacts other organelle functions directly or indirectly. It further relates centrosome functions to other research areas such as aging and stem cell research. Since its discovery almost 150 years ago the centrosome is increasingly being recognized as a most impactful organelle for its role, not only as primary microtubule organizing center (MTOC) but also as a major communication center for signal transduction pathways and as a center for proteolytic activities. Its significance for cell cycle regulation has been well studied and we now also know that centrosome dysfunctions are implicated in numerous diseases and disorders including cancer, cystic diseases of the kidney, liver fibrosis, cardiac defects, obesity and several other diseases and disorders. This new volume reviews the latest advances in the field and provides valuable background information that is readily understandable for the newcomer and the experienced centrosome researcher alike. Due to the interdisciplinary of the subject, it is a valuable resource for researchers and clinicians working in biomedical research, cell biology, cancer biology, reproduction and developmental biology, neuroscience and stem cell research.

An ever-growing roster of model organisms is a hallmark of 21st century Developmental Biology. Emerging model organisms are well suited to asking some fascinating and important questions that cannot be addressed using established model systems. And new methods are increasingly facilitating the adoption of new research organisms in laboratories. This volume is written by some of the scientists who have played pivotal roles in developing new models or in significantly advancing tools in emerging systems. Presents some of the most interesting additions to the core set of model organisms Contains contributions from people who have developed new model systems or advanced tools Includes personal stories about how and why model systems were developed

This book discusses the role of oxidative stress in human reproduction with a focus on men's health. The physiological roles of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in male fertility are the focus in this book. This topic is important because oxidative stress is a result of the imbalance between ROS and antioxidants in the body which may lead to sperm damage (DNA or count), deformity, and eventually, male infertility. Therefore, for a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms related to male genotoxicity and its regulation in infertility, this book provides an up-to-date view on the impact of oxidative stress factors in male reproduction. The main aim of this book is to collect a series of research articles and reviews from a diverse group of scientists to share their research work on the role of ROS or oxidative stress in physiological and pathological states in relation to (in)fertility in the male. This book presents various state-of-the-art chapters of the recent progress in the field of cellular toxicology and clinical manifestations of various issues related to men's health and fertility. Topics include cell signaling, DNA damage and infertility, the pathophysiology of disease instigation and distribution, immune toxicity and prevention.

This book highlights the ontogenetic development of larval T. ovatus, provides a comprehensive overview of larval rearing of this species. It focuses on the physiological and molecular changes during the early ontogeny of T. ovatus and hatchery and nursery practices. The first seven chapters update the recent development in the hatchery technology in T. ovatus, including feed and feeding, environmental manipulation, hatchery management, and fingerlings in transportation. Chapter eight and onwards decode the possible molecular mechanisms underlying fish development and response to environmental changes and discuss the transcription and expressions of growth and development-related genes in T. ovatus. The last chapters discuss the functional feed additives to the diet and antibiotic usage of T. ovatus juveniles. This book is a valuable resource for researchers, practitioners and students in the aquaculture industry and related fields.

This book comprehensively summarizes the biological mechanisms of coloration and pattern formation of animals at molecular and cellular level, offering up-to-date knowledge derived from remarkable progress in the last 10 years. The brilliant coloration, conspicuous patterns and spectacular color changes displayed by some vertebrates and invertebrates are generally their strategies of the utmost importance for survival. Consists of mainly three parts, starts with introductory chapter, such as Pigments and Pigment Organelles, Developmental Genetics of Pigment Cell Formation, Adult Pigment Patterns, and Color Changes, this book introduces new pigment compounds in addition to classically known pigments and organelles, explains how the generation of multiple types of pigment cell is genetically controlled, describes the mechanisms underlying the zebrafish stripe formation as well as other animals and also summarizes the mechanism of physiological and morphological color changes of teleost, amphibian and cephalopod. Written by experts in the field, this book will be essential reading for graduate students and researchers in biological fields who are interested in pigmentation mechanisms of animals.

Organ Development, Volume 132, the latest release in the Current Topics in Developmental Biology series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapter written by an international board of authors. This volume highlights cogent reviews of the development, maintenance and regeneration/repair of several organ systems, from eye to kidney, to the musculoskeletal system. Many reviews highlight new techniques or technologies that are currently pushing the field. The role of both embryonic and adult stem cells are highlighted and senior authors are all women scientists. - Provides the authority and expertise of leading contributors from an international board of author - Presents the latest release in this series - Updated release includes the latest information on organ development

This book comprehensively describes the transgenesis techniques and applied experimental methods in ascidians including enthusiastically developed original devices in addition to concrete examples of developmental biology studies. Ascidians have been one of the most important model animals in developmental biology for studying molecular and cellular processes underlying formation of the chordate body plan. Transgenic techniques such as microinjection, electropolation, cis-element analysis and application, and TALENs and CRISPR/Cas9 have been developed in ascidians for more than 20 years, and now many applied methods, some of which are unique in ascidians, have been accumulated. Those extensive technological innovations, such as cell isolation, cell labeling, germ-line transformation, marker transgenic lines, and the experimental systems for studying notochord formation and nervous system, are exceptional particularly in marine invertebrates. This book is useful for ascidian researchers to quickly access the techniques in which they are interested as well as to compare each technology to become familiar with specialized tips, and for biologists of other organisms to learn the unique techniques and ingenious attempts specific to ascidians. Providing detailed and easily understandable descriptions of techniques, the book will inspire ascidian specialists to improve their techniques, encourage anyone wanting to begin studying ascidians, and enable readers to immediately apply the techniques to the organisms they research.

Cell Fate in Mammalian Development, Volume 128, the latest release in the Current Topics in Developmental Biology series, provides reviews on cell fate in mammalian development. Each chapter is written by an international board of authors, with this release including sections on the Specification of extra-embryonic lineages during mouse pre-implantation development, Cell polarity and fate specification, The circuitry that drives trophectoderm identity, Breaking symmetry and the dynamics of transcription factors directing cell fate specification, Mechanics and cell fate, How physical properties of cells change in development and their effect on cell fate decisions, and more. - Provides the authority and expertise of leading contributors from an international board of authors - Includes new sections on the specification of extra-embryonic lineages during mouse pre-implantation development, cell polarity and fate specification, the circuitry that drives trophectoderm identity, and more - Presents the latest release in the Current Topics in Developmental Biology series

Scholars consider the origins and consequences of the evolution of multicellularity, addressing a range of organisms, experimental protocols, theoretical concepts, and philosophical issues.The evolution of multicellularity raises questions regarding genomic and developmental commonalities and discordances, selective advantages and disadvantages, physical determinants of development, and the origins of morphological novelties. It also represents a change in the definition of individuality, because a new organism emerges from interactions among single cells. This volume considers these and other questions, with contributions that explore the origins and consequences of the evolution of multicellularity, addressing a range of topics, organisms, and experimental protocols.Each section focuses on selected topics or particular lineages that present a significant insight or challenge. The contributors consider the fossil record of the paleontological circumstances in which animal multicellularity evolved; cooptation, recurrent patterns, modularity, and plausible pathways for multicellular evolution in plants; theoretical approaches to the amoebozoa and fungi (cellular slime molds having long provided a robust model system for exploring the evolution of multicellularity), plants, and animals; genomic toolkits of metazoan multicellularity; and philosophical aspects of the meaning of individuality in light of multicellular evolution. ContributorsMaja Adamska, Argyris Arnellos, Juan A. Arias, Eugenio Azpeitia, Mariana Benítez, Adriano Bonforti, John Tyler Bonner, Peter L. Conlin, A. Keith Dunker, Salva Duran-Nebreda, Ana E. Escalante, Valeria Hernández-Hernández, Kunihiko Kaneko, Andrew H. Knoll, Stephan G. König, Daniel J. G. Lahr, Ottoline Leyser, Alan C. Love, Raul Montañez, Emilio Mora van Cauwelaert, Alvaro Moreno, Vidyanand Nanjundiah, Aurora M. Nedelcu, Stuart A. Newman, Karl J. Niklas, William C. Ratcliff, Iñaki Ruiz-Trillo, Ricard Solé

In 2016 Current Topics in Developmental Biology (CTDB) will celebrate its 50th or'golden anniversary. To commemorate the founding of CTDB by Aron Moscona (1921-2009) and Alberto Monroy (1913-1986) in 1966, a two-volume set of CTDB (volumes 116 and 117), entitled Essays on Development, will be published by Academic Press/Elsevier in early 2016. The volumes are edited by Paul M. Wassarman, series editor of CTDB, and include contributions from dozens of outstanding developmental biologists from around the world. Overall, the essays provide critical reviews and discussion of developmental processes for a variety of model organisms. Many essays relate the history of a particular area of research, others personal experiences in research, and some are quite philosophical. Essays on Development provides a window onto the rich landscape of contemporary research in developmental biology and should be useful to both students and investigators for years to come. - Covers the area of developmental processes for a variety of model organisms - International board of authors - Part of two 50th Anniversary volumes proving a comprehensive set of reviews edited by Serial Editor Paul M. Wassarman

In 2016 Current Topics in Developmental Biology (CTDB) will celebrate its 50th or'golden anniversary. To commemorate the founding of CTDB by Aron Moscona (1921-2009) and Alberto Monroy (1913-1986) in 1966, a two-volume set of CTDB (volumes 116 and 117), entitled Essays on Development, will be published by Academic Press/Elsevier in early 2016. The volumes are edited by Paul M. Wassarman, series editor of CTDB, and include contributions from dozens of outstanding developmental biologists from around the world. Overall, the essays provide critical reviews and discussion of developmental processes for a variety of model organisms. Many essays relate the history of a particular area of research, others personal experiences in research, and some are quite philosophical. Essays on Development provides a window onto the rich landscape of contemporary research in developmental biology and should be useful to both students and investigators for years to come. - Covers the area of developmental processes for a variety of model organisms - International board of authors - Part of two 50th Anniversary volumes proving a comprehensive set of reviews edited by Serial Editor Paul M. Wassarman

This new volume of Current Topics in Developmental Biology covers Stem Cells in Development and Disease. The chapters provide a comprehensive set of reviews covering such topics as the mechanisms of pluripotency in vivo and in vitro, hematopoietic stem cell development, intestinal stem cells and their defining niche, epithelial stem cells in adult skin, the mammary stem cell hierarchy, satellite cells, neural stem cells of the hippocampus, lung stem and progenitor cells in tissue homeostasis and disease, spermatogonial stem cell functions in physiological and pathological conditions, the origin, biology, and therapeutic potential of facultative adult hepatic progenitor cells, nephron progenitor cells, adult stem cell niches, cancer stem cells, pluripotency and cellular heterogeneity, and cellular mechanisms of somatic stem cell aging - Covers the area of Stem Cells in Development and Disease - International board of authors - Provides a comprehensive set of reviews covering such topics as Intestinal Stem Cells, Nephron Stem Cells/Progenitors, Skin epithelial Stem Cells and Lung Stem Cells

This book contains the proceedings of the International Symposium on the Mechanisms of Sexual Reproduction in Animals and Plants, where many plant and animal reproductive biologists gathered to discuss their recent progress in investigating the shared mechanisms and factors involved in sexual reproduction. This now is the first book that reviews recent progress in almost all fields of plant and animal fertilization. It was recently reported that the self-sterile mechanism of a hermaphroditic marine invertebrate (ascidian) is very similar to the self-incompatibility system in flowering plants. It was also found that a male factor expressed in the sperm cells of flowering plants is involved in gamete fusion not only of plants but also of animals and parasites. These discoveries have led to the consideration that the core mechanisms or factors involved in sexual reproduction may be shared by animals, plants and unicellular organisms. This valuable book is highly useful for reproductivebiologists as well as for biological scientists outside this field in understanding the current progress of reproductive biology.

Cells in the developing embryo depend on signals from the extracellular environment to help guide their differentiation. An important mediator in this process is the extracellular matrix – secreted macromolecules that interact to form large protein networks outside the cell. During development, the extracellular matrix serves to separate adjacent cell groups, participates in establishing morphogenic gradients, and, through its ability to interact directly will cell-surface receptors, provides developmental clocks and positional information. This volume discusses how the extracellular matrix influences fundamental developmental processes and how model systems can be used to elucidate ECM function. The topics addressed range from how ECM influences early development as well as repair processes in the adult that recapitulate developmental pathways.

Developmental biology attracts scientists from many different areas of biology, and the amphibian Xenopus holds a special place among the organisms studied as a model of vertebrate development. Until now, no recently published atlas existed to aid researchers and students coming to the Xenopus embryo for the first time. The present book satisfies this need. With its synthesizing approach and its generous provision of beautiful scanning, transmission, and light microscopy images, this unique volume will be a standard reference not only for developmental biologists but for all students of embryology, histology, and comparative anatomy.

The discovery in 1977 that genes are split into exons and introns has done away with the one gene - one protein dogma. Indeed, the removal of introns from the primary RNA transcript is not necessarily straightforward since there may be optional pathways leading to different messenger RNAs and consequently to different proteins. Examples of such an alternative splicing mechanism cover all fields of biology. Moreover, there are plenty of occurrences where deviant splicing can have pathological effects. Despite the high number of specific cases of alternative splicing, it was not until recently that the generality and extent of this phenomenon was fully appreciated. A superficial reading of the preliminary sequence of the human genome published in 2001 led to the surprising, and even deceiving to many scientists, low number of genes (around 32,000) which contrasted with the much higher figure around 150,000 which was previously envisioned. Attempts to make a global assessment of the use of alternative splicing are recent and rely essentially on the comparison of genomic mRNA and EST sequences as reviewed by Thanaraj and Stamm in the first chapter of this volume. Most recent estimates suggest that 40-60% of human genes might be alternatively spliced, as opposed to about 22% for C. elegans.

The organizer area plays a central role in the formation of the embryonic axis and the central nervous system of all vertebrates including the human fetus. In The Vertebrate Organizer outstanding molecular development biologists and embryologists report their latest approaches in this fascinating research area using different vertebrate model organisms. The presented data are of central importance for the understanding of early human embryogenesis.

What makes an ideal model system to study embryonic development? The answer to this question has varied in the course of scientific quest, depending on the available experimental approaches. Yet, at the beginning of the new millennium, most of the mainstream model organisms have one feature in common, they are amenable to genetic analysis. Indeed, the genetic approach has proven remarkably effective in the dissection of complex biological phenomena, starting with the regulation of the lactose operon in Escherichia coli, the decision between the lysogenic and lytic cycles of the lambda phage and the yeast cell cycle control. The genetic screens for mutations affecting embryonic development of a fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, carried out by Christiane Niisslein-Volhard, Eric Wieschaus and Edward Lewis, marked the turning point in experimental approaches to embryonic development of more complex organisms. The resulting mutants facilitated identification of the key regulatory molecules, while their phenotypic classes hinted at the underlying regulatory mechanisms. This work not only provided a paradigm for genetic dissection of other developmental processes, but also inspired many budding embryologists throughout the world. Soon thereafter, George Streisinger noted that, among vertebrates, the zebrafish, Danio rerio, offered many features facilitating the dissection of nervous system development and function. Among these, transparency of the embryo, ease of husbandry, and the highly prolific nature make the zebrafish a good genetic model system.

As a result of the molecular genetic analysis of development similar mechanisms for the regulation of gene expression are found in a wide range of organisms. In'Development - the Molecular Genetic Approach'these common mechanisms as well as the specific events leading to a differentiated cell are described. Particular items treated are, for example, how asymmetry is achieved, how cell size is determined, how cell division is controlled, how cell lineage influences development, how cells know their position, and how cells communicate during development.

Developmental biology took shape between 1880 and the 1920s Basic concepts like the developmental role of chromosomes and the germ plasm (today's genome), self differentiation, embryonic regulation and induction, gradients and organizers hail from that period; indeed, the discipline was defined as a whole by the programmatic writings of Wilhelm Roux as early as 1889. The present essays cover the period up to the Nobel prize-winning work of Hans Spemann and Hilde Mangold. They were originally published in Roux's Archives of Developmental Biology, from Vol. 200 onward to the journal's centennial issues in 1995/96. The essays aim at introducing current adepts of developmental biology to observations and experiments that have lead their predecessors towards basic concepts still influential today.

The overall scope of this new series will be to evolve an understanding of the genetic basis of (1) how early mesoderm commits to cells of a heart lineage that progressively and irreversibly assemble into a segmented, primary heart tube that can be remodeled into a four-chambered organ, and (2) how blood vessels are derived and assembled both in the heart and in the body. Our central aim is to establish a four-dimensional, spatiotemporal foundation for the heart and blood vessels that can be genetically dissected for function and mechanism. Since Robert DeHaan's seminal chapter'Morphogenesis of the Vertebrate Heart'published in Organogenesis (Holt Rinehart & Winston, NY) in 1965, there have been surprisingly few books devoted to the subject of cardiovascular mor­ phogenesis, despite the enormous growth of interest that occurred nationally and internationally. Most writings on the subject have been scholarly compilations of the proceedings of major national or international symposia or multiauthored volumes, often without a specific theme. What is missing are the unifying concepts that can make sense out of a burgeoning database of facts. The Editorial Board of this new series believes the time has come for a book series dedicated to cardio­ vascular morphogenesis that will serve not only as an important archival and didac­ tic reference source for those who have recently come into the field but also as a guide to the evolution of afield that is clearly coming of age.

Our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in mammalian brain development remains limited. However, the last few years have wit­ nessed a quantum leap in our knowledge, due to technological improve­ ments, particularly in molecular genetics. Despite this progress, the available body of data remains mostly phenomenological and reveals very little about the grammar that organizes the molecular dictionary to articulate a pheno­ type. Nevertheless, the recent progress in genetics will allow us to contem­ plate, for the first time, the integration of observation into a coherent view of brain development. Clearly, this may be a major challenge for the next century, and arguably is the most important task of contemporary develop­ mental biology. The purpose of the present book is to provide an overview that syn­ thesizes up-to-date information on selected aspects of mouse brain devel­ opment. Given the format, it was not possible to cover all aspects of brain development, and many important subjects are missing. The selected themes are, to a certain extent, subjective and reflect the interests of the contributing authors. Examples of major themes that are not covered are peripheral nervous system development, including myelination, the development of the hippocampus and several other CNS structures, as well as the developmental function of some important morphoregulatory molecules.

'Who would believe that so small a space could contain the images of all the universe?'Leonardo da Vinci The last years of the 20th century have found the discipline of Developmental Biology returning to its original position at the forefront of biological re­ search. This progress can be attributed to the burgeoning knowledge base on molecules and gene families, and to the power of the molecular genetic ap­ proach. Topping the list of organ systems which have provided the most significant advances would have to be the eye. The vertebrate eye was one of the classic embryologic models, used to demonstrate many important prin­ ciples, including the concepts of inductive tissue interactions first put forth in the early 1900s. Within the last decade of this century, a return to some of the old questions with the new approaches has put eye development back into the limelight. I find this a highly appropriate topic for a book which aims to spark research for the new millennium. We begin with a chapter that discusses the anatomy of eye development, providing the basic reference information for the chapters that follow. A novel aspect of this introduction is the connection made between develop­ mental strategies and the eye's optical function. What also emerges from this chapter is the number of important eye structures that have barely been touched by the modern developmental biologist. Work on cornea and ante­ rior chamber development has lagged behind lens and retina.

The cerebral neo cortex, unique to mammals, is regarded as the prerequisite for higher cognitive function and is the structure most closely associated with the idea of the'mind'. Expansion of mental capa city between mammals is most typically associated with an evolutionary increase in neocortical volume that culminates in the intricately folded configuration of sulci and gyri so charac­ teristic of the primate cerebral cortex. Yet, the basic unit structure and funda­ mental connectivity of cortex appears to have been preserved from the smooth cortex of the mouse or rat to the highly convoluted cortical mantle of the human that, if stretched out as a sheet, would be large enough to wrap the entire human brain multiple times. The basic similarity in structure and func­ tion has made it possible to conduct studies in the relatively simple cortices of rat or mouse and have the results pertain to the understanding of the primate, including human, cortex. The neo cortex is an intriguing structure for the study of cell differentiation. Its dozens of neuronal cell types and small handful of different glial types have their origin in a pseudostratified germinal epithelium lining the ventricular surface of the forebrain. In its mature form, neocortex is a six-Iayered struc­ ture; five of its layers contain multiple different but characteristic neuronal types with the sixth occupied by neuronal processes. Various glial cells are dis­ persed throughout all six layers.

The development of vertebrate muscle has long been a major area of research in developmental biology. During the last decade, novel technical approaches have allowed us to unravel to a large extent the mechanisms underlying muscle formation, and myogenesis has become one of the best-understood paradigms for cellular differentiation. This book concisely summarizes our current knowledge about muscle development in vertebrates, from the determination of muscle precursors to terminal differentiation. Each chapter has been written by an expert in the field, and particular emphasis has been placed on the different developmental and molecular pathways followed by the three types of vertebrate musculature - skeletal, heart and smooth muscle.

Many complex molecular interactions are involved in the development of the mammalian brain. Molecules serving as guidance cues for migratory cells, growing axons and for recognition of postsynaptic targets are a major topic for research because they are directly involved in the formation of neuronal circuits, thus creating the foundation for subsequent functional refinement through interactions with the environment. In addition, most guidance cue molecules are also involved in plasticity, damage repair and regeneration in the adult brain. This volume reviews current knowledge on major classes of molecules involved in: guidance of growing axons; tau proteins involved in the establishment of axonal polarity, outgrowth and contact recognition; gangliosides and lectins involved in neuronal migration, neurite outgrowth and contact recognition; and myelin molecules that inhibit nerve regeneration.

1 Kevin Moses It is now 25 years since the study of the development of the compound eye in Drosophila really began with a classic paper (Ready et al. 1976). In 1864, August Weismann published a monograph on the development of Diptera and included some beautiful drawings of the developing imaginal discs (Weismann 1864). One of these is the first description of the third instar eye disc in which Weismann drew a vertical line separating a posterior domain that included a regular pattern of clustered cells from an anterior domain without such a pattern. Weismann suggested that these clusters were the precursors of the adult ommatidia and that the line marks the anterior edge of the eye. In his first suggestion he was absolutely correct - in his second he was wrong. The vertical line shown was not the anterior edge of the eye, but the anterior edge of a moving wave of patterning and cell type specification that 112 years later (1976) Ready, Hansen and Benzer would name the'morphogenetic furrow'. While it is too late to hear from August Weismann, it is a particular pleasure to be able to include a chapter in this Volume from the first author of that 1976 paper: Don Ready! These past 25 years have seen an astonishing explosion in the study of the fly eye (see Fig.

This new volume of Current Topics in Developmental Biology covers the area of Planar Cell Polarity with contributions from an international board of authors. The 12 chapters provide a comprehensive set of reviews covering such topics as PCP in Zebra fish, the role of Dishevelled in PCP regulation, and PCP in axon pathfinding. - Covers the area of planar cell polarity - International board of authors - 12 chapters provide a comprehensive set of reviews covering such topics as planar cell polarity in Zebrafish, the role of disheveled in planar cell polarity regulation, and planar cell polarity in axon path finding

The science of change from cells to cultureCells to Civilizations is the first unified account of how life transforms itself—from the production of bacteria to the emergence of complex civilizations. What are the connections between evolving microbes, an egg that develops into an infant, and a child who learns to walk and talk? Award-winning scientist Enrico Coen synthesizes the growth of living systems and creative processes, and he reveals that the four great life transformations—evolution, development, learning, and human culture—while typically understood separately, actually all revolve around shared core principles and manifest the same fundamental recipe. Coen blends provocative discussion, the latest scientific research, and colorful examples to demonstrate the links between these critical stages in the history of life.Coen tells a story rich with genes, embryos, neurons, and fascinating discoveries. He examines the development of the zebra, the adaptations of seaweed, the cave paintings of Lascaux, and the formulations of Alan Turing. He explores how dogs make predictions, how weeds tell the time of day, and how our brains distinguish a Modigliani from a Rembrandt. Locating commonalities in important findings, Coen gives readers a deeper understanding of key transformations and provides a bold portrait for how science both frames and is framed by human culture.A compelling investigation into the relationships between our biological past and cultural progress, Cells to Civilizations presents a remarkable story of living change.

In recent years, a number of molecular pathways and cellular processes that are essential for normal vertebrate development have been implicated in cancer initiation and progression. In this volume, leaders in the field of cancer genetics and developmental biology share recent insights into the importance of developmental pathways for tumorigenesis. These discoveries provide important avenues for innovative new approaches to treating some of the most challenging developmental tumors. - Provides researchers an overview and synthesis of the latest research findings and contemporary thought in the area - There are now a large number of molecular targeted therapies for the treatment of cancer. Many of these therapies target pathways that are essential for normal development. Therefore, this volume provides an up-to-date and timely perspective on those pathways and biological processes that hold the greatest promise for targeted intervention.

This book focuses on the intersection between cell cycle regulation and embryo development. Specific modifications of the canonical cell cycle occur throughout the whole period of development and are adapted to fulfil functions coded by the developmental program. Deciphering these adaptations is essential to comprehending how living organisms develop. The aim of this book is to review the best-known modifications and adaptations of the cell cycle during development. The first chapters cover the general problems of how the cell cycle evolves, while consecutive chapters guide readers through the plethora of such phenomena. The book closes with a description of specific changes in the cell cycle of neurons in the senescent human brain. Taken together, the chapters present a panorama of species - from worms to humans - and of developmental stages - from unfertilized oocyte to aged adult.

This book presents some of the most advanced experimental systems in which the role of forces has been dissected. It explores the physical principles accounting for how forces can affect soft matter such as our cells, and presents some of the methods used to measure or assess the role of forces. - Presents some of the most advanced experimental systems in which the role of forces has been dissected - Explores the physical principles accounting for how forces can affect soft matter such as our cells, and presents some of the methods used to measure or assess the role of forces - Appeals to both physicists eager to get familiar with biological systems and to biologists curious about the physical principles behind what they observe

Hematopoietic Stem Cells brings together articles covering the biology of hematopoietic stem cells during embryonic development, reporting particular aspects of fly, fish, avian and mammalian models. Thus, this book allows a comparative overview of hematopoietic stem cell generation in the different classes, emphasizing the conserved trends in development. This book culminates with state-of –the art knowledge on hematopoietic development in human species and discussions of the most recent breakthroughs with relevance to both researchers and clinicians.

The term mitochondrion is derived from Latin, with mitos meaning thread and chondrion meaning granules. Indeed, under the light microscope, mitochondria often appear as rods or granules within the cytoplasm. For decades after initial visualization of mitochondria by light microscopy, mitochondrial function remained clouded. However, with the development of differential centri- gation and electron microscopy, it was discovered that a chief function of the mitochondria was the generation of ATP for the remainder of the cell. For many years, the energy generating function of the mitochondria was considered the primary, if not the sole function of the mitochondria. During that period, inves- gators attempted to obtain information on the mechanism of ATP synthesis and the regulation of electron transport. In the first chapter of the book, Dr. Hassinen summarizes those studies, providing clear pictures on the transformation of reducing equivalents into a proton gradient and the mechanism by which the F F 1 0 ATPase utilizes the proton gradient to generate ATP. He also summarizes the key regulatory steps of the citric acid cycle, which is the major source of reducing equivalents for the electron transport chain. In the heart, most of the carbon that feeds into the citric acid cycle is derived from fatty acid metabolism. Although fatty acid utilization provides most of the ATP for contraction, a proper balance must be maintained between the utilization of fatty acids and that of glucose. In the second chapter, Drs.

Kruppel-like factors (KLFs) are attracting great attention across a wide spectrum of biological sciences and medicine because of their remarkable biological potency and the diversity of roles they play in the physiological and pathological changes of cells and tissues. This book is a comprehensive compendium of the latest research on the molecular mechanisms of KLFs, describing their roles in transcriptional regulation, cellular differentiation and development, the pathogenesis of the liver and cardiovascular systems and cancer, and generation of ES cells and iPS cells. As the only concise treatise written to date by leading experts in the field, it serves as an authoritative review of this family of molecules and is an essential reference for all who are interested in KLFs. The book also explores the potential of KLFs as targets for novel therapeutics and diagnostics, and will be invaluable in those fields.

The ability of striated muscle tissue to adapt to changes in activity or in working conditions is extremely high. In some ways it is comparable to the ability of the brain to learn. The interest in muscle adaptation is increasing in relation to the idea that physical fitness helps in the prevention of disease, may counteract the loss of physical performance and generally improves wellbeing. Plasticity is the word used since the late 1970's to indicate collectively all the processes and mechanisms which form the background of muscle adaptation. This book aims to provide a systematic updating of the available knowledge on molecular and cellular mechanisms, as well as on changes at whole muscle level. The book means to be a guide and a help for people who enter the field as PhD or medical students, but is also a tool for refreshing and updating knowledge for people already active in the field in basic sciences as well as in applied disciplines such as neurology, sports science and rehabilitation.