bipotentialite et balance genique de sexe; IX. Mecanismes polyfactoriels et determina- 

 tion du sexe; X. Determination genetique du sexe chez les mammiferes — cas de 

 I'homme; XI. Cas particuliers de la determination du sexe; XII. Sommaire general 



This clearly written and extremely well-organized account of the cytology and genetics 

 of sex could be of great value to both advanced students and active investigators. The 

 more the pity that the most recent advances could not be incorporated. Perhaps the 

 author can be persuaded to update the book fairly soon, particularly since an English 

 version seems to be planned. The book may be regarded as a companion volume to the 

 author's book on sex differentiation reviewed below (no. 49). 



The table of contents speaks for itself. Selected examples are drawn from the whole 

 animal kingdom except the protozoans. The concluding chapter is mainly a brief sum- 

 mary of the present-day cytogenetic theory of sex determination. 



The book is profusely illustrated, mainly with good line drawings. The bibliography 

 comprises over 500 titles; the most recent literature dates from 1969/70. 



49. 



L. GALLIEN. 1973. DIFFERENCIATION ET ORGANOGENESE SEXUELLE DES 



METAZOAIRES 



Masson, Paris. Maitrises de Biologic. X,250 pp., 93 figs., 3 tabs., author and subject 

 indexes 



Contents: 1. Aspects morphologiques de la sexualite chez les Metazoaires; 2. Analyse 

 experimentale de la morphogenese sexuelle chez les Invertebres; 3. Organogenese 

 sexuelle chez les Vertebres; 4. Effets epigenetiques et controles endocriniens dans la 

 differenciation sexuelle des Vertebres; 5. Analyse experimentale du role des hormones 

 dans I'organogenese sexuelle des Vertebres; 6. Biochimie de la differenciation sexuelle 

 chez les Vertebres 



The author of this monograph is one of the doyens in this field, and he has given us a 

 clearly written, very complete, and critical expose. The only thing to be regretted is that 

 it is not entirely up to date. For instance, two recent and already influential theories, 

 those of Ohno and Mittwoch, are not mentioned. Nevertheless, a book like this was 

 urgently needed, and it will be of great value both to students and investigators. 

 Understandably, the problem of the germ line and the determination of primordial germ 

 cells is left out of consideration. (See review no. 48 above.) 



The table of contents speaks for itself. The book is concluded by a brief resume of the 

 five main phases of vertebrate sexual development, exemplified by the author's favourite 

 object, Pleurudeles, and by a very useful chart summarizing almost everything that is 

 known about these phases in amphibians. 



The book is profusely illustrated with line drawings and photographs. The literature 

 list comprises over 400 titles; with very few exceptions the most recent titles date from 

 1969. 



50. 



W. P. LUCKETT, ed. 1974. REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF THE PRIMATES 



Karger, Basel, etc. Contributions to Primatology vol. 3. XII,288 pp., 193 figs., 17 tabs., 



subject index. SFr. 129.00, $ 47.00 (paper) 



Contents: I. Evolutionary trends in primate sex cycles (Butler); 2. Comparative 

 morphology of the primate ovary (Koering); 3. Oogenesis in adult prosimian primates 

 Anand Kumar); 4. Biology of primate spermatozoa (Bedford); 5. Comparative develop- 

 ment and evolution of the placenta in primates (Luckett); 6. Comparative aspects of 

 primate chorionic gonadotropins (Tullner); 7. Placental biosynthesis and metabolism 

 of steroid hormones in primates (Ryan and Hopper) 



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