mathematical biology but of a true philosophy of biology. 



The main or "textbook" part of the book (chs.2-18) is a solid account of 

 the data and interpretations of "classical" experimental embryology and of 

 some of the recent work on mammalian embryos. It acquires unity from the 

 fact that it is pervaded by this same philosophy. It is not "modern" in the 

 current sense of the word; the molecular level is treated "tangentially" , 

 though what there is of it is sound enough (chs.5-7). If the story seems 

 somewhat repetitive in places this is for very good didactical reasons. The 

 text demands concentrated attention but the author almost always achieves 

 lucidity. (That this is possible shows the current trend to make science 

 "easy" for the student for the fallacy that it is.) There are some minor 

 inaccuracies, such as the equation of secondary morphogenetic fields with 

 organ-forming areas (in reality the organ field is often initially larger 

 than the organ area) . Areas that receive little or no attention are the cell 

 membrane and cell periphery, induction by cell contact, the stem cell prob- 

 lem sensu stricto, transdetermination, and morphogenesis in large unicellular 

 organisms. It might be worth wile to remedy some of this in a future edition. 

 On the other hand, the material in chs.9 and 10 is seldom found in develop- 

 mental biology texts. Ch.l8 is a short but very sensible discussion of the 

 merits and demerits of prepattern and positional information concepts. 



The more philosophical parts are to be found in chs.l and 19-22. Here the 

 author ventures far into general biology and phylogeny, as well as into the 

 foundations of modern physics and the philosophy of consciousness and per- 

 ception. These parts should be read to be fully appreciated. It is signifi- 

 cant that the last section of the final chapter should be entitled: Onto- 

 geny reveals the inadequacy of present hereditary concepts. 



The book is attractively produced. The figures are simple line drawings. 

 They are on the whole quite effective but some are schematised to the ex- 

 tent of losing contact with biological reality. Most chapters have short 

 lists of additional reading as well as a few key references; in the case of 

 the latter the choice is not always the most obvious one. 



2. 



D.A.EDE. 1978. AN INTRODUCTION TO DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 



Blackie, Glasgow, etc. X,246 pp., 71 figs., subject index. £ 5.25 (paper), 



£ 10.50 (cloth) 



Contents: 1. Levels of complexity in development, 2. Formation of gametes 

 and initiation of development, 3. Beginnings of development, 4. Interac- 

 tions in early development, 5. Cellular activity in the embryo and in vi- 

 tro, 6. Morphogenetic movements in early embryogenesis, 7. Neurulation and 

 the development of the embryonic axis in vertebrates, 8. Determination and 

 differentiation, 9. Inductive interactions, 10. Development of the skin 

 and its appendages, 11. Morphogenesis of a complex organ: the vertebrate 

 limb, 12. Form and pattern, 13. Genes and development, 14. Hormonal con- 

 trol of developmental processes, 15. Insect development, 16. Mammalian 

 development, 17. Developmental neurobiology 



This book aims at providing the basis for a course in animal developmental 

 biology for advanced undergraduates, and it does this very well. The book 

 would also be suitable as a rapid orientation for scientists coming from 

 other fields. It is surprisingly up to date in most areas, and the lists of 

 further reading are excellent. The main emphasis is on experimental work. 

 Although the cellular level is by no means neglected, much attention goes 

 to supracellular aspects (particularly pattern formation and its theoretical 

 explanations) and to the genetic control of development. 



The book is in the form of an easily readable, continuous story and the 

 author introduces major concepts and ideas at the most appropriate places as 



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