Vertebrate Pattern Formation, Volume 159 in the Current Topics in Developmental Biology series, highlights advances in the field, with this volume presenting interesting chapters on timely topics, including Hox genes patterning the vertebrate body, Endodermal patterning, The use of organoids/gastruloids to understand development, Cell shape and movements controlling development, Neural crest and placodes in vertebrate development, Patterning of the neural tube, Non-canonical Wnt signaling in axial extension, The control of transitions along the main body axis, Emergence of a left-right symmetric body plan in vertebrate embryos, Formation of the vascular system, Generation of patterns in the paraxial mesoderm, and more. - Provides the authority and expertise of leading contributors from an international board of authors - Presents the latest release in the Current Topics in Developmental Biology series - Updated release includes the latest information on the Vertebrate Pattern Formation

Following pioneering work by Harrison on amphibian limbs in the 1920s and by Saunders (1948) on the apical ridge in chick limbs, limb development became a classical model system for investigating such fundamental developmental issues as tissue interactions and induction, and the control of pattern formation. Earlier international conferences, at Grenoble 1972, Glasgow 1976,and Storrs, Connecticut 1982, reflected the interests and technology of their time. Grenoble was concerned with ectoderm-mesenchyme interaction, but by the time of the Glasgow meeting, the zone of polarizing activity (ZPA) and its role in control of patterning was the dominant theme. Storrs produced the first intimations that the ZPA could be mimicked by retinoic acid (RA), but the diversity of extracellular masrix ~olecules,particularly in skeletogenesis,was the main focus of attention. By 1990, the paradigms had again shifted. Originally, the planners of the ARW saw retinoic acid (as a possible morphogen controlling skeletal patterning), the variety of extracellular matrix components and their roles, and the developmental basis of limb evolution as the leading contemporary topics. However, as planning proceeded, it was clear that the new results emerging from the use of homeobox gene probes (first developed to investigate the genetic control of patterning of Drosophila embryos) to analyse the localised expression of "patterning genes" in limb buds would also be an important theme.

This 121st IMA volume, entitled MATHEMATICAL MODELS FOR BIOLOGICAL PATTERN FORMATION is the first of a new series called FRONTIERS IN APPLICATION OF MATHEMATICS. The FRONTIERS volumes are motivated by IMA pro grams and workshops, but are specially planned and written to provide an entree to and assessment of exciting new areas for the application of mathematical tools and analysis. The emphasis in FRONTIERS volumes is on surveys, exposition and outlook, to attract more mathematicians and other scientists to the study of these areas and to focus efforts on the most important issues, rather than papers on the most recent research results aimed at an audience of specialists. The present volume of peer-reviewed papers grew out of the 1998-99 IMA program on "Mathematics in Biology," in particular the Fall 1998 em phasis on "Theoretical Problems in Developmental Biology and Immunol ogy." During that period there were two workshops on Pattern Formation and Morphogenesis, organized by Professors Murray, Maini and Othmer. James Murray was one of the principal organizers for the entire year pro gram. I am very grateful to James Murray for providing an introduction, and to Philip Maini and Hans Othmer for their excellent work in planning and preparing this first FRONTIERS volume. I also take this opportunity to thank the National Science Foundation, whose financial support of the IMA made the Mathematics in Biology pro gram possible.

The organizer area plays a central role in the formation of the embryonic axis and the central nervous system of all vertebrates including the human fetus. In The Vertebrate Organizer, outstanding molecular development biologists and embryologists report their latest approaches in this fascinating research area using different vertebrate model organisms. The presented data is of central importance for the understanding of early human embryogenesis.

'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.

This Lecture Notes Volume represents the first time any of the summer school lectures have been collected and published on a discrete subject rather than grouping all of a season's lectures together. This volume provides a broad survey of current thought on the problem of pattern formation. Spanning six years of summer school lectures, it includes articles which examine the origin and evolution of spatial patterns in physio-chemical and biological systems from a great diversity of theoretical and mechanistic perspectives. In addition, most of these pieces have been updated by their authors and three articles never previously published have been added.

The development of vertebrate muscle has long been a major area of research in developmental biology. During the last decade, novel technical approaches have allowed us to unravel to a large extent the mechanisms underlying muscle formation, and myogenesis has become one of the best-understood paradigms for cellular differentiation. This book concisely summarizes our current knowledge about muscle development in vertebrates, from the determination of muscle precursors to terminal differentiation. Each chapter has been written by an expert in the field, and particular emphasis has been placed on the different developmental and molecular pathways followed by the three types of vertebrate musculature - skeletal, heart and smooth muscle.

Arranged logically to follow the most widely adopted course structure, this text will leave students with a full understanding of the unique structure, function, and living patterns of all vertebrates.

Dieser aktuelle Band aus der renommierten enzyklopädischen Reihe ist der erste in vielen Jahren, der alle wichtigen Aspekte der Entwicklungsbiologie vereint, von der Morphogenese und Organogenese, über die epigenetische Regulation der Genexpression bis hin zur evolutionären Entwicklungsbiologie. Der Herausgeber hat ein herausragendes Team zusammengestellt, das diese Themen beleuchtet, und damit ein wegweisendes Werk für die kommenden Jahre geschaffen. Das Ergebnis ist ein einzigartiges, herausragendes Referenzwerk der Entwicklungsbiologie für Forscher, Studenten und Fachexperten.

Today developmental and evolutionary biologists are focussing renewed attention on the developmental process--those genetic and cellular factors that influence variation in individual body shape or metabolism--in an attempt to better understand how evolutionary trends and patterns within individuals might be limited and controlled. In this important work, the author reviews the classical literature on embryology, morphogenesis, and paleontology, and presents recent genetic and molecular studies on development. The result is a unique perspective on a set of problems of fundamental importance to developmental and evolutionary biologists.