Embryogenesis Explained - Hardcover

Natalie K Gordon; Richard Gordon

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 9814350486 ISBN 13: 9789814350488

Publisher: World Scientific Publishing Company, 2016

Synopsis

This book ... represents an important development in the field of developmental biology and in the foundations of theoretical biology. Its clear presentation and style makes it a perfect complementary textbook for teaching embryogenesis and related courses. - Dr Abir U Igamberdiev, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada

While new theoretical ideas often come and go, particularly those that invoke 'waves', the onus is always on the author to follow-up on what are at times extraordinary claims. With Embryogenesis Explained, Richard and Natalie (Gordon) take the next step of presenting the concept of differentiation waves in a less technical manner, but also with respect to modern cell and molecular biology. - Dr Bradly Alicea, Orthogonal Research, Champaign, IL, and OpenWorm Foundation, CA, USA

The greatest mystery of life is how a single fertilized egg develops into a fully functioning, sometimes conscious multicellular organism. Embryogenesis Explained offers a new theory of how embryos build themselves, and combines simple physics with the most recent biochemical and genetic breakthroughs, based on the authors' prediction and then discovery of differentiation waves. They explain their ideas in a form accessible to the lay person and a broad spectrum of scientists and engineers. The diverse subjects of development, genetics and evolution, and their physics, are brought together to explain this major, previously unanswered scientific question of our time.

As a follow up on The Hierarchical Genome, this book is a shorter but conceptually expanded work for the reader who is interested in science. It is useful as a starting point for the curious layman or the scientist or professional encountering the problem of embryogenesis without the formal biology background. There is also material useful for the seasoned biologist caught up in the new rush of information about the role of mechanics in developmental biology and cellular level mechanics in medicine.

About this title

Review:

Embryogenesis Explained is a pleasure to read, presenting difficult concepts clearly and effectively. It carries deep biological thought, and whether one agrees with the differentiation waves theory or not, it is inspiring and stimulating. --Prof Jean Jacques Kupiec, Centre Cavaillès, École Normale Supérieure, Paris, France

The entire work is richly illustrated and the authors' passion for their subject is evident in every page, making for an enjoyable and informative read ... Embryogenesis Explained is currently the definitive textbook in its field and should appeal to an extremely wide range of readers. --Dr Richard Mayne, University of the West of England, UK

What I was not expecting was a whole new and potentially paradigm shifting concept in our understanding of what drives cell determination and fate in the developing embryo, in the form of the cell state splitter and differentiation trees. I am not alone in being (up till now at any rate) ignorant of these fascinating ideas. --Dr David Miller, University of Leeds, UK

From the Inside Flap:

The greatest mystery of life is how a single fertilized egg develops into a fully functioning, sometimes conscious multicellular organism. Embryogenesis Explained offers a new theory of how embryos build themselves, and combines simple physics with the most recent biochemical and genetic breakthroughs, based on their discovery of differentiation waves. The authors explain their ideas in a form accessible to the lay person and the broad spectrum of scientists and engineers. Readers are prompted to question whether existing concepts of explanation in molecular developmental biology are adequate to the task. The book examines the history of the belief that there is something special about life that is either outside the realm of science or requires new laws of nature. The different subjects of development, physics, genetics and evolution are unified to explain the major unanswered scientific question of our time.

About this edition

• Publisher: World Scientific Publishing Company
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 9814350486
• ISBN 13: 9789814350488
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 784