namic systems theory and statistical physics". 



The chapters of most direct interest to developmental biologists are ch.9 

 (Chemical and Biochemical Systems) and ch.lO (Applications to Biology). The 

 last three sections of ch.lO (together occupying 15 pages) deal with morpho- 

 genetic models, a discussion taking its starting point in the Gierer-Mein- 

 hardt model for Hydra. 



Collections of papers 



11. 



S. A. LEVIN, ed. 1978. STUDIES IN MATHEMATICAL BIOLOGY, Part I: Cellular be- 

 haviour and the development of pattern 



Mathemat. Assoc, of America, Washington. Studies in Mathematics vol.15. 

 XIV, 315 pp., 90 figs., 8 tabs., author and subject indexes. $ 16.00 



Contributors: Arbib, Cowan, Ermentrout, Guckenheimer , Kauffman, Kopell, 

 Levin, Rinzel, Segel, Winfree, Zeeman 



This volume contains a collection of five original articles and four re- 

 prints. The latter date back to 1974 and 1975 while some of the former were 

 written in 1975 or 1976. 



Three papers are devoted to the understanding of the function of the ner- 

 vous system at different levels of organisation. The next two papers address 

 the problem of the emergence of collective behaviour in a variety of cellu- 

 lar systems, and the problem of pattern formation in reaction-diffusion 

 systems. General problems of development such as the role of wave phenomena, 

 the dynamics of gene control circuits, and the role of biological rhythms 

 are discussed in the last four papers. 



PLANT DEVELOPMENT (general) (see also 6,84) 



Treatises 



12. 



D.S.LETHAM, P.B.GOODWIN and T. J .V .HIGGINS, eds. 1978. PHYTOHORMONES AND 

 RELATED COMPOUNDS - a comprehensive treatise, vol.11. Phytohormones and 

 the development of higher plants 



Elsevier/North-Holland Biomed. Press, Amsterdam, etc. XXVI, 648 pp., 95 figs., 

 19 tabs., subject and taxonomic indexes. Dfl.224.00, $ 99.50 



This two-volume book by a band of authors from many different countries 

 is a typical compilatory work. It contains an enormous amount of information 

 but is difficult to read "in one go" (this also holds for the individual 

 chapters) . The chapters are linked by cross references. The intention of the 

 editors was to "emphasize that there should be an integrated approach to 

 plant biology placing the role of hormones in proper perspective within the 

 overall context of plant metabolism". Vol.1 dealt with the biochemistry of 

 phytohormones and related compounds in both lower and higher plants, empha- 

 sising the subcellular effects of the hormones as far as higher plants are 

 concerned. 



From among the 13 chapters of vol.11 we single out those dealing with the 

 following topics: Growth and differentiation of cells and tissues in vitro 

 (Gresshof f ) ; Growth and development of organs of the vegetative plant (Good- 

 win) ; Fruit growth (Goodwin) ; Growth correlations (Goodwin et al.) ; Orienta- 

 tion of growth (Reinhold) ; Flower formation (Zeevaart) ; Seed dormancy and 

 germination (Khan and Tao) ; Bud dormancy (Saunders) . 



As is understandable in a work of this nature, not all chapters are equal- 

 ly up to date. The volume is well produced and adequately illustrated, but 

 the price is excessively high. 



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