13 



6. PRINCIPLES OF DEVELOPMENT AND DIFFERENTIATION 



1966 



by C. H. Waddington The Macmillan Company 



"Current Concepts in Biology" Series New York 



125 pp., 47 figs. Collier-Macmillan Ltd. 



(paper-bound) London 



Price: 15s. 



This booklet forms part of a series of paperback editions intended for 

 beginning biology students. The book is elementary in scope, but the approach 

 is thoroughly modern, and much emphasis is placed on the most recent findings, 

 particularly in the fields of cell ultrastructure. molecular biology, and gene 

 action. The book is concerned with principles only. The great problems of 

 biological organization are clearly brought out. 



The book is in five chapters, the first two of which discuss the basic facts 

 and fundamental problems of development. Among other things, these chapters 

 contain sections on embryology and evolution, the development of plants, 

 embryology and genetics, gene activity, and molecular biology. Chapter 3 deals 

 with histogenesis ("differentiation in time"), chapter 4 with regionalization 

 and the control of gene activity ("differentiation in space"), and chapter 5 

 with morphogenesis ("differentiation in shape"). Some of the sections may 

 be specifically mentioned, such as "genes and proteins", "the canalization of 

 development", and "nuclear transplantation" in chapter 3, and "the control of 

 gene sequences" and "genetic switch mechanisms" in chapter 4. 



The book is illustrated with line drawings and diagrams, most of which 

 have explanatory legends. No literature references are given in the text or in 

 the figure legends. The book is concluded by a selective (but rather arbitrary) 

 list of books and articles for further reading, and a short alphabetical index. 



The book contains a number of annoying printing errors. The figures are mostly redrawn 

 from other authors without stating the origin. They do not always match the text satisfactorily. 



7. FERTILIZATION 



1965 



by C. R. Austin Prentice-Hall Inc. 



"Foundations of Developmental Englewood Cliffs, N.J. 



Biology" Series Price: 21s. 



145 pp., 84 figs., 5 tbs. 

 (paper-bound) 



This monograph, together with that by A. Monroy (see review no. 12 

 below), may be said to take the place of Rothschild's book written ten years 

 previously (Lord Rothschild, "Fertilization", 1956). 



On comparing the two new books, it may be said that the one by Austin 

 follows a broader and more "biological" approach, while that by Monroy 

 penetrates more deeply into certain specific aspects of the subject, particularly 

 those concerned with biochemistry. In this respect the two books complement 

 each other well. 



The purpose of the present author has been to provide general knowledge 

 of fertilization in its comparative aspects, and of the various cytological, 

 physiological, and behavioral mechanisms concerned with the union of the 



