I am pleased to include this book as Volume 6 of Developmental Biology: A Comprehensive Synthesis. It has been edited by two of the foremost investiga tors in the study of genomic adaptability. lowe a special debt of gratitude to Dr. Marie A. DiBerardino, who developed the concept of the volume. Dr. DiBerar dino is also a very active member of the editorial board for this series. Much of the success of this series is due to her valuable advice. This series was established to create comprehensive treatises on specific topics in developmental biology. Such volumes serve a useful role in develop mental biology, since it is a very diverse field that receives contributions from a wide variety of disciplines. This series is a meeting ground for the various practitioners of this science, facilitating an integration of heterogeneous infor mation on specific topics. Each volume is intended to provide the conceptual basis for a comprehen sive understanding of its topic as well as analysis of the key experiments upon which that understanding is based. The specialist in any aspect of developmen tal biology should understand the experimental background of the field and be able to place that body of information in context to ascertain where additional research would be fruitful. At that point, the creative process generates new experiments. This series is intended to be a vital link in that process of learning and discovery.

Inhalt
1 · Introduction: Early Development and Cell Commitment.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Genome during Development.- 3. Regulation of Early Development and Cell Specialization.- 4. Specification and Stability of Cell Lineages in Early Embryogenesis.- 5. Changes or Modulations of Cell Phenotype in Determined and Differentiated Cells.- 6. Molecular Mechanisms of Gene Regulation and Heritability of the Determined or Differentiated State.- References.- 2 · DNA Gains, Losses, and Rearrangements in Eukaryotes.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Gain of DNA Sequences.- 3. Rearrangement of DNA Sequences.- 4. Loss of DNA Sequences.- 5. The Ciliate Genome.- 6. Conclusions.- References.- 3 · Fate and Nuclear Localization of Germinal Vesicle Proteins during Embryogenesis.- 1. Oogenesis.- 2. Oocyte Maturation.- 3. Fate of Oocyte Nuclear Proteins after Fertilization.- 4. Nuclear Differentiation during Organogenesis.- 5. Summary and Prospects.- References.- 4 · Genomic Imprinting in the Mouse.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Nuclear Totipotency.- 3. Development of Eggs with Only Maternal Genomes.- 4. Development of Eggs with Only Paternal Genomes.- 5. Is the Parental Origin of Early Embryonic Nuclei Remembered?.- 6. Embryo Reconstruction.- 7. Chromosomal Imprinting.- 8. Probing Imprinted Domains.- 9. Conclusions.- References.- 5 · Phenotypic Changes in Cell Culture.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Modulative Shifts in Phenotype.- 3. Stable Changes in Gene Expression.- 4. Concluding Remarks.- References.- 6 · Developmental Regulation of the Heat-Shock Response.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Heat-Shock Response.- 3. Developmental Regulation.- 4. Conclusions.- References.- 7 · Transdifferentiation in Animals: A Model for Differentiation Control.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Primary Transdifferentiation.- 3. SecondaryTransdifferentiation.- 4. Tertiary Transdifferentiation.- 5. Possible Mechanisms in Transdifferentiation.- References.- 8 · Genomic Activation in Differentiated Somatic Cells.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Nuclear Transfers from Differentiated Somatic Tissues.- 3. Nuclear Transfers from Germ Cells.- 4. Imprinting of the Genome.- 5. Reversal of Genomic Imprinting.- 6. Mechanisms of Genomic Activation.- 7. Conclusions and Perspectives.- References.- 9 · Neoplastic Cells: Modulation of the Differentiated State.- 1. Introduction: The Concept of Cancer Cell Differentiation.- 2. Cancer and Stem Cells.- 3. Neoplasms That Differentiate.- 4. Cancer Cell Differentiation: A Brief Chronicle.- 5. Control of Differentiation of Embryo Cells and Cancer Cells: Are There Commonalities?.- References.