This book launches a new continuing series in developmental biology. Any new publishing venture in science can only be justified if it satisfies a need and fulfills that need in an exemplary way. I believe that there is an acute need for comprehensive treatises on specialized topics in developmental biology-especially because this is a very diverse field that receives con tributions from a wide variety of disciplines. It is difficult to remain abreast of progress in multifaceted topics and to understand how the various aspects of a topic interrelate. The volumes that will comprise this series are designed to facilitate those processes. Each volume of this series will attempt to convey the current status of research and thought on a specific topic in development, place current research within historical perspective, and lay the intellectual groundwork for future research. These volumes are intended to provide an in-depth background on these topics for advanced undergraduates, graduate stu dents, and senior scientists. An investigator considering research in one of these areas will get an overview of the field as well as discover the status of recent research in the area.

Inhalt
I. Physiological and Morphological Aspects.- 1 • Local Control Mechanisms During Oogenesis and Folliculogenesis.- 2 • Vitellogenesis in Insects.- 3 • Vitellogenesis and Oocyte Growth in Nonmammalian Vertebrates.- 4 • Annulate Lamellae (Porous Cytomembranes): With Particular Emphasis on Their Possible Role in Differentiation of the Female Gamete.- 5 • Egg Envelopes in Vertebrates.- 6 • Oocyte Maturation in Amphibians.- 7 • Oocyte-Somatic Cell Interactions During Oocyte Growth and Maturation in the Mammal.- II. Gene Expression: Regulation and Consequences for Oogenesis and Early Development.- 8 • RNA Synthesis and Storage During Insect Oogenesis.- 9 • Functional Organization of the Amphibian Oocyte Nucleus.- 10 • 5 S Ribosomal Gene Transcription During Xenopus Oogenesis.- 11 • Gene Expression During Oogenesis and Oocyte Development in Mammals.- 12 • Informational Content of the Echinoderm Egg.- 13 • Genetic Analysis of Oogenesis and the Role of Maternal Gene Expression in Early Development.