16 



Communications of tlie „International 



Institute of Embryology" 



(Section of Developmental Biology of tlie l.U.B.S.) 



The Section of Developmental Biology (formerly the Embryological Section) 

 of the l.U.B.S. held its fourth International Symposium from September 15th 

 till September 20th, 1960, in the Villa "Kursaal" at Pallanza, Northern Italy. 

 Besides the sponsorship of the l.U.B.S., the Symposium received the generous 

 support of various Italian scientific and educational organisations. 



Its topic was "Advances since 1945 in our knowledge of germ cells and 

 earliest stages of development", which was subdivided into two main subtopics, 

 viz. "Formation, ultrastructure and physiology of oocytes, as seen in the hght 

 of their morphogenetic significance" and "Progressive maturation of the or- 

 ganisation pattern in fertilized and cleaving eggs". The subtopics were treated 

 from causal-morphological, genetical, physiological and biochemical viewpoints, 

 while in the second subtopic the various types of development found in the 

 animal kingdom received special attention. Except for two special lectures, 

 one on sperm and one on fertilization, the main attention was focused on the 

 egg cell and its development. 



The Symposium aroused great interest, with the result that about two 

 hundred embryologists from all parts of the v/orld gathered at Pallanza. This 

 great attendance was certainly also due to the coordination of the dates of 

 the Symposium with those of the Congress of Cell Biology in Paris. 



This was the reason why the General Assembly of the I. I.E., which was 

 convened during the Symposium, viz. on September 18th, suggested that the 

 next Symposium be held again in coordination with the cell biologist meeting, 

 viz. in the North East of the United States in September 1964. 



At the General Assembly the President spoke in commemoration of the 

 fellows R. G. Harrison and S. R. Detwiler, whom the I. I.E. lost by death. 



Ten new fellows and about 120 new members have been elected. The 

 college of members has thus acquired a much more representative character 

 than was previously the case. 



From the General Assembly it was suggested that the institution of fellow- 

 ship as such should be abolished, and a general membership only should be 

 maintained. A special committee was appointed to study this question in detail, 

 and to supply the present Board with all the arguments for and against, in 

 order that this matter may be adequately discussed at the next General 

 Assembly. 



A lively discussion developed as to the most efficient form of organisation 

 of the Symposia held by the I. I.E., and with regard to the question whether 

 the use should be recommended of only one congress language for the scien- 

 tific activities of the I. I.E. 



Three members of the Board, the fellows Dalcq (President), Weiss (Vice 

 president) and Lehmann (Secretary-treasurer) were not eligible for re-election. 



