Aoetabularia and Dictyostelium, through various higher plant and animal sys- 

 tems, to isozymes and the immune system. In several of these chapters consid- 

 erable attention is devoted to signal reception and transformation by the 

 cells concerned. 



Most chapters are up to date until 1976/77; each has its own selective bib- 

 liography. The book is illustrated with a host of line drawings and diagrams 

 and a number of good photographs. 



Monographs 



84a. 



K.A.KAFIANI and A . A . KOSTOMAROVA . 1978. INFORMATIONAL MACROMOLECULES IN THE 



EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF ANIMALS (in Russian) 



Publ. House Nauka, Moscow. 335 pp., 87 figures. 1 R.90 



Although similar in organisation to the monograph by Neyfakh and Timofeeva 

 (see review no. 84b below), this book assumes a more advanced background know- 

 ledge of the reader. As the title indicates, it provides a detailed look at 

 the synthesis and control mechanisms governing informational macromolecules 

 in early developmental systems both invertebrate and vertebrate. The authors 

 have placed special emphasis on subjects closer to their research interests 

 and have not included some topics, such as isoenzymes and the mitochondrial 

 genome. Particular emphasis has been placed upon work conductedduring the past 

 decade. The book is divided into three parts, dealing with DNA, RNA and pro- 

 teins. The coverage ranges from the period of gametogenesis to gastrulation, 

 and the organisation of the text centers around specific molecular functions 

 rather than species-specific characteristics. The main emphasis is on the in- 

 teracting molecular control mechanisms operating during early development, 

 and the authors have succeeded well in relating molecular controls both to 

 biological peculiarities of the species examined and to the overall require- 

 ments and organismal functions of the stages of development treated. Overall, 

 this integration has been well done. There is an extensive bibliography of 

 almost 1,300 references. 



B.M.Carlson 



84b. 



A. A. NEYFAKH and M . Ya. TIMOFEEVA. 1977. MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF DEVELOPMENTAL 



PROCESSES (in Russian) 



Publ.Hause Nauka, Moscow. 312 pp., 74 figs., 2R.22 



The stated purpose of this, the first of two books, is to introduce em- 

 bryologists and molecular biologists to an integrated discipline. This volume, 

 which in many respects is introductory, is devoted principally to describing 

 the major molecular events in developmental systems. The book begins with two 

 short introductory chapters - one outlining some basic facts and principles of 

 embryology and a second, introducing some fundamental information about mo- 

 lecular biology. The remainder of the book is divided into three parts: I. 

 DNA, II. RNA, and III. Protein. 



For each of these types of molecules, sub-chapters discuss their synthesis 

 and distribution in the egg, during oogenesis and in embryogenesis . The sec- 

 tion on proteins also includes short chapters on the synthesis of tissue- 

 specific proteins and enzymatic activity. 



The book is well organised and exceptionally clearly written. For the most 

 part it lives up to its promise of integrating molecular biology and develop- 

 ment and in addition, it provides a good synthesis of Western and Soviet work 

 in this field. The publication of the companion volume on regulatory mecha- 

 nisms in the molecular biology of development will be most welcome. 



B.M.Carlson 



235 



