This book will be of interest to scientists working in the fields of cell and developmental biology. The chapters cover topics that capture the spirit of this dynamic discipline by integrating contemporary research with the classical embryological literature.

We visualise developmental biology as the study ofprogressive changes that occurwithin cells, tissues and organisms themselves during their life span. A good exampleofa field ofdevelopmentalbiology in whichthis conceptis encapsulatedis thatofsomitogenesis. The somitewas identifiedas the primordialunit underlyingthe segmentedorganisationofvertebrates more than two centuries ago. The spectacular discoveries and achievements inmolecularbiologyin the last fifty years have created a gene-basedrevolution in both the sorts ofquestions as well as the approaches one can use in developmental biology today. Largely as a resultofthis, during the 20th and 21st centuries this simple structure, the somite, has been the focus ofa deluge ofpapers addressingmultipleaspectsofsomiteformation and patterning both at the cellularand molecular level. One ofthe mainreasons for suchinterest in the process ofsomitogenesis stems from the fact that it is such an exquisitelybeautiful example ofbiology working under strict temporal and spatial control in a reiterative manner that is highly conserved across the vertebrate classes. Our intention is that this book will be ofinterest to different kinds ofscientists, includingbasic researchers, pathologists, anatomists, teachersandstudentsworking in the fields ofcell and developmentalbiology. The nine chapterscoverawide array of topics that endeavour to capture the spirit of this dynamic and ever-expanding disciplineby integratingboth contemporaryresearchwith the classical embryological literaturethat concentratedon descriptionsofmorphologicalchanges inembryos and the interactionsofcells and tissues during development. Inso doingthey encompass the main aspects ofsomitogenesis across four vertebrate classes (frog, fish, mouse and chick) and the hope is that this will enable readers to acquire an appreciationof this developmentalprocess in all its facets.

Autorentext

MIGUEL MAROTO is a MRC Career Development Fellow and Lecturer at the University of Dundee, UK. He received his PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the Department of Biochemistry of the Universidad Autonoma of Madrid, Spain. His research interests include investigating the biochemical basis of different signalling mechanisms implicated in the acquisition of specific cell fates during vertebrate development. In recent years he has been involved in the analysis of the mechanism of the molecular clock in the control of the process of somitogenesis.

NEIL V. WHITTOCK gained his PhD in Human Molecular Genetics whilst working at Guys' and St Thomas' Hospitals in London, UK. His research focussed on developing diagnostic genetic tests for Duchenne muscular dystrophy before moving on to identifying genes involved in bullous skin disorders. He then continued his research as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Dundee before arriving at the University of Exeter where he spent three years working alongside Dr Peter Turnpenny. The work at Exeter focussed on the identification of genes involved in human genetic disorders that affected the development of the spine and ribs, specifically the spondylocostal dysostoses. He now works as an Ambulance Technician in Devon, UK. and runs his own antique clock restoration business.

Klappentext

We visualise developmental biology as the study of progressive changes that occur within cells, tissues and organisms themselves during their life span. A good example of a field of developmental biology in which this concept is encapsulated is that of somitogenesis. The somite was identified as the primordial unit underlying the segmented organisation of vertebrates more than two centuries ago. The spectacular discoveries and achievements in molecular biology in the last fifty years have created a gene-based revolution in both the sorts of questions as well as the approaches one can use in developmental biology today. Largely as a result of this, during the 20th and 21st centuries this simple structure, the somite, has been the focus of a deluge of papers addressing multiple aspects of somite formation and patterning both at the cellular and molecular level. One of the main reasons for such interest in the process of somitogenesis stems from the fact that it is such an exquisitely beautiful example of biology working under strict temporal and spatial control in a reiterative manner that is highly conserved across the vertebrate classes. Our intention is that this book will be of interest to different kinds of scientists, including basic researchers, pathologists, anatomists, teachers and students working in the fields of cell and developmental biology. The nine chapters cover a wide array of topics that endeavour to capture the spirit of this dynamic and ever-expanding discipline by integrating both contemporary research with the classical embryological literature that concentrated on descriptions of morphological changes in embryos and the interactions of cells and tissues during development. In so doing they encompass the main aspects of somitogenesis across four vertebrate classes (frog, fish, mouse and chick) and the hope is that this will enable readers to acquire an appreciation of this developmental process in all its facets. Each of the different animal models offers alternative strategic approaches (including experimental embryology, genetics and cell biology) to tackle the same process and as such each offers an invaluable and unique insight into different aspects of somitogenesis. The topics described in these chapters cover the generation of somitic tissue during gastrulation, the molecular mechanisms by which the unsegmented pre-somitic mesoderm becomes segmented into somites, the generation of polarity within somites and the means by which the somite is directed to differentiate into a number of different cell derivatives. There are also two chapters devoted to describing the latest developments on relating spontaneous mouse mutations and mutations leading to abnormal vertebral segmentation in man to the molecular mechanisms already identified as being crucial for somite formation in the lower vertebrates.

Inhalt
Formation and Differentiation of Avian Somite Derivatives.- Avian Somitogenesis: Translating Time and Space into Pattern.- Genetic Analysis of Somite Formation in Laboratory Fish Models.- Old Wares and New: Five Decades of Investigation of Somitogenesis in Xenopus laevis.- Role of Delta-Like-3 in Mammalian Somitogenesis and Vertebral Column Formation.- Mesp-Family Genes Are Required for Segmental Patterning and Segmental Border Formation.- bHLH Proteins and Their Role in Somitogenesis.- Mouse Mutations Disrupting Somitogenesis and Vertebral Patterning.- Defective Somitogenesis and Abnormal Vertebral Segmentation in Man.