not represented; there is no mention of mesoderm induction in the amphibian blastula; 

 the data on imaginal discs are mostly very old and data on homoeotic mutants are lacking: 

 the information on polar granules in insects is scanty; and cellular metaplasia in amphibian 

 lens regeneration is not mentioned. The selective reference list of some 260 titles reflects 

 these and other gaps. 



The books are well illustrated and have good glossaries. 



Monographs 



6. 



D. H. O'DAY and P. A. HORGEN, eds. 1977. EUCARYOTIC MICROBES AS MODEL 



DEVELOPMENTAL SYSTEMS 



Dekker, New York, etc. Microbiology Series vol.2. XIV, 440 pp., 116 figs., 41 tabs., 

 author index, combined subject & species index. SFr. 130.00 



Contributors: Dingle, Durston, Francis, Haber, Horgen, Johnson, Kochert, LeJohn, 

 LeStourgeon, Loomis, Lovett, O'Day, Sutter, Thompson, Van Etten, Wright, Yuyama 



This volume shows convincingly how much primitive eucaryotic organisms are already 

 contributing to the solution of several basic problems of development, and how great is 

 their potential. It is a series of reviews of current research by predominantly American 

 and Canadian authors, and can be recommended to all developmental biologists, including 

 those preparing courses or books. 



The 17 chapters deal with a great variety of "microbes" (in a very broad sense): 

 various unicellular organisms, a colonial alga, true and cellular slime moulds, and various 

 fungi. The chapters are arranged in three parts, each preceded by a brief editors' introduc- 

 tion which places them in a general perspective and facilitates reading by non-specialists. 



Part I (Growth and cellular differentiation, 9 chapters) deals with genetic analysis of 

 development, transcription, and enzyme accumulation and function. Part II (Cell com- 

 munication and morphogenesis, 4 chs.) discusses four different types of effectors: glyco- 

 proteins, terpenoid and steroid hormones, and cyclic nucleotides. Part III (Dormancy and 

 germination, 4 chs.) considers membrane behaviour, extracellular enzymes, and macro- 

 molecular synthesis. 



The book is produced in good offset print but has relatively few illustrations, in view 

 of which the price seems excessive. 



Books of readings 



7. 



C. FULTON and A. O. KLEIN. 1976. EXPLORATIONS IN DEVELOPMENTAL BIO- 

 LOGY 



Harvard Univ. Press, Cambridge, Mass., etc. XVI, 704 pp., numerous figs, and tabs., sub- 

 ject index (including authors of papers). $ 17.50, £ 11.90 



Contents: Introduction; Phenotypic change with genoty pic constancy (4 papers); Devel- 

 opment as a problem of differential gene function (8); From protein synthesis to ordered 

 structures (10); Multicellularity; cell interactions in development (13); Cell differentiation 

 (19); Development beyond the embryo (5) 



Rather than producing another standard text the authors have chosen to assemble a 

 large number of original research papers in fascimile print, linking them up with much 

 background material and sometimes extensive comment. They have tried to make the 

 book readable for students with one year of general biology and genetics. Although it is 

 always possible to disagree about details of selection and omission, the present reviewer 

 found their approach stimulating, their coverage admirable, and their editorial efforts on 

 the whole successful. 



The six main sections listed above are subdivided into 22 chapters. In most of these the 



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