A Guide To Vertebrate Development

'Patterning in Vertebrate Development' is a new volume in the 'Frontiers in Molecular Biology' series which provides a range of comprehensive, and authoritative reviews of current research into patterning, a fundamental process in developmental biology.

The eighth edition of this widely respected volume continues the tradition of introducing laboratory studies of developmental biology with its broad coverage, copious illustrations and detailed descriptions of a wide range of developing stages. Unique in its combination of a detailed atlas with interesting exercises on living embryos, it also contains complete instructions for additional experimental studies that include state-of-the-art research approaches. The eighth edition adds a new chapter on the development of the mouse embryo, many new illustrations, seven new advanced hands-on studies and a glossary.

Thyroid hormones role in development was first suggested in the 18th century when a relationship between goiter and cretinism was found by F.E. Fodere. But it was Rudolf Virchow work in the late 19th century with thyroidectomized animals that clearly demonstrated that goiter led to cretinism. This opened the door to the understanding of TH action on vertebrate development. However given the relative ease by which cretinism could be treated simply by eating animal thyroid gland or iodine supplementation, research into the action of TH on vertebrate development has been lagging. This was further enhanced by the complex biology of TH where, after production in the gland, entry, activation and binding of the TH to cognate receptors in target cells is highly regulated. Nonetheless, new scientific advances and technologies are now providing tools to dissect the developmental role of TH on vertebrate development, both embryonic and post-natal. The post-natal role of TH in vertebrate development is long known from anuran studies but less evidences exist from other vertebrates. Recently, new evidences show that TH constitute key developmental signal in embryonic development of vertebrates, especially in neural development, from humans to fish. This new evidences are corroborating long-standing observations that infants from mothers with impaired TH physiology presented changes in mental and cognitive indexes. Nonetheless, given that TH constitute integrative physiological signals in vertebrates a new scenario is emerging whereas TH seem to be important in the development and maturation of most organ systems in vertebrates during their different life transitions

This book provides a comprehensive overview of topics describing the earliest steps of fertilization, from egg activation and fertilization to the activation of the zygotic genome, in various studied vertebrate model systems. The contribution of maternal and paternal factors and their role in the early embryo as parental DNA becomes modified and embryonic genes become activated is fundamental to the initiation of embryogenesis in all animal systems. It can be argued that this is a unique developmental period, when information from the parents is compressed to direct the development of the body plan of the entire organism, a process of astounding simplicity, elegance and beauty. In addition to their fundamental scientific interest, many frontiers of biomedicine, such as reproductive biology, stem cells and reprogramming, and the understanding of intergenerational diseases, depend on advances in our knowledge of these early processes. Vertebrate Development: Maternal to Zygotic Control brings together chapters from experts in various disciplines describing the latest advances related to this important developmental transition. Each chapter is a synthesis of knowledge relevant to all vertebrates, with details on specific systems as well as comparisons between the various studied vertebrate models. The editorial expertise encompasses the fields of major vertebrate model systems (mammalian, amphibian and teleost) ensuring a balanced approach to various topics. This unique book—with its combination of in-depth and up-to-date basic research, inter-species comprehensiveness and emphasis on the very early stages of animal development—is essential for research scientists studying vertebrate development, as well as being a valuable resource for college educators teaching advanced courses in developmental biology.