Gastrulation: From Cells to Embryo

During gastrulation, tissue layers are formed and the overall body plan is established. This book is the definitive guide to this vitally important period in embryonic development, providing authoritative and up to date information that includes the first comprehensive interspecies comparison, cell movements and patterning events, the roles of individual genes and gene families, and the evolution of gastrulation.

Introduction and definitions, Historical Overview PART I -The embryology of gastrulation Sponges, Cnidaria/Ctenophores, Nematode, Molluscs, Crustaceans, Long germ band insects, Short germ band insects, Echinoderms, Protochordates, Cartilaginous fish, Teleosts, Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds, Rodents, Rabbit, Other mammals PART II - Cellular events of gastrulation Cell movements of gastrulation, Epiboly and gastrulation movements in fish, Cell-substrate interactions, Chemotaxis, Breaking radial symmetry: Amphibian-type, Amniote-type, Mesoderm induction, Dorsoventral (mediolateral) patterning, Establishment of the head-tail axis, Left-right asymmetry, Neural induction, Endoderm development, Extraembryonic tissues PART III - The molecular biology of gastrulation Signaling pathways: FGF, BMP, Nodal, Vg1 and Activins, Wnts, Notch, Retinoids, Transcription factors: Otx, HNF3a, T-box genes, Goosecoid, Lim, Not, Siamois, Twist, Snail and Slug, Regulatory networks Extracellular components: Extracellular matrix, Carbohydrate and lipid modifications PART IV - The evolution of gastrulation Comparative aspects of gastrulation, Molecular evolution, Embryo microfossils Conclusion