Developmental Biology: A Very Short Introduction

Description

"The development of a single cell, a fertilized egg, into a fly, an elephant, or a human baby is one of the most remarkable near-miracles achieved by nature. How does this astonishing feat happen? How does the egg 'know' what to become? These are the questions that the field of developmental biology seeks to answer. It is an area closely linked to genetics, evolution, and cell biology. This Very Short Introduction, written by the distinguished developmental biologist Lewis Wolpert, gives a concise account of what we know about development, discusses the first vital steps of growth, and explores one of the liveliest areas of scientific research."--Publisher description.  Read more... Abstract: The development of a single fertilized egg into a fly, an elephant, or a human baby is one the most remarkable near-miracles achieved by nature. This Very Short Introduction, written by the distinguished developmental biologist Lewis Wolpert, gives a concise account of, and explores, one of the liveliest areas of scientific research.  Read more... Content: Cells -- Vertebrates -- Invertebrates and plants -- Morphogenesis -- Germ cells and sex -- Cell differentiation and stem cells -- Organs -- Nervous system -- Growth, cancer, and ageing -- Regeneration -- Evolution.