In this volume of ASPA, devoted to developmental biology research, 9 authors from different fields of developmental biology present their investigations on various developing plant and animal models. An "a priori" concern in mind that weightlessness might have negative effects on developmental processes, it is encouraging to know that the overall development of various organisms tested so far is essentially correct under spaceflight conditions, leading to viable individuals with viable offspring. On the other hand, particular studies on specifically neurophysiological aspects in developing organisms reveal important flight or postflight disturbances; however it is encouraging to know that they appear to be transient only.
The book contains ten chapters, giving details on how, in technical terms, experiments for spaceflights are prepared, performed and analysed and on how, in scientific terms, the available results have to be interpreted. One contribution is devoted to plant systems, five consider the overall aspects of embryonic development in invertebrates and vertebrates, two focus on neurophysiological aspects and one reports on the "mother-offspring system" in weightlessness in a mammalian model, the last chapter presents new ESA facilities and instruments to be integrated into the European research Laboratory "Columbus" of the ISS.

This book focuses on explaining the distribution of sexual systems (simultaneous hermaphroditism, sequential hermaphroditism, environmental sex determination,dioecy, androdioecy, etc.) among taxa, which remains a major challenge in evolutionary biology. Although significant advances have been made for angiosperms, there is not yet a theory that predicts the sexual system for the majority of animal taxa, and other taxa of plants also remain poorly understood. The problem, particularly for animals, is that sexual systems can be very conservative, with whole phyla and classes being characterized by a single sexual system; for example essentially the whole phylum Platyhelminthes is simultaneously hermaphroditic, whereas the Insecta (Hexapoda) and the Tetrapoda among the vertebrates, are exclusively dioecious. Sex allocation theory on the other hand, suggests that sexual systems should be highly responsive to evolution, changing with population density, life span, patterns of resource availability, etc. The book provides an overview of the topic and then presents a series of chapters, each dealing with a taxon with substantial lability in sexual system in order to identify the factors associated with changes in sexual system in each case. By doing so, the authors reveal factors that have not been considered in formal theory but seem to have a major impact on transitions between sexual systems. This book appeals to a wide readership in fields from zoology and evolutionary biology to botany.

This revised edition will continue to serve as the most complete and up-to-date guide to the use of the avian embryo in studies of vertebrate development. It will include new approaches to analysis of the chick genome, gene knock-out studies using RNA interference, morpholinos, and other cutting edge techniques. As with the original edition, emphasis has been placed on providing practical guidance, highlighting potentials and pitfalls of all key cell biological and embryological techniques.
* Fully revised second edition, organized into basic and advanced methods.
* New chapters with modern techniques only in use in the past decade, with an emphasis placed on providing practical guidance - highlighting potentials and pitfalls.
* International team of contributors with broad expertise in using the avian embryo to study vertebrate development.
* Includes new approaches including analysis of the chick genome, gene knock-out studies using RNAi, morpholinos, and other cutting edge techniques.

Mathematical and computational biology is playing an increasingly important role in the biological sciences. This science brings forward unique challenges, many of which are, at the moment, beyond the theoretical techniques available. Developmental biology, due to its complexity, has lagged somewhat behind its sister disciplines (such as molecular biology and population biology) in making use of quantitative modeling to further biological understanding. This volume comprises work that is among the best developmental modeling available and we feel it will do much to remedy this situation.
This book is aimed at all those with an interest in the interdisciplinary field of computer and mathematical modeling of multi-cellular and developmental systems. It is also a goal of the Editors to attract more developmental biologists to consider integrating modeling components into their research. Most importantly, this book is intended to serve as a portal into this research area for younger scientists - especially graduate students and post-docs, from both biological and quantitative backgrounds.
* Articles written by leading exponents in the field
* Provides techniques to address multiscale modelling
* Coverage includes a wide spectrum of modeling approaches
* Includes descriptions of the most recent advances in the field

The saga of sex differences in brain and behavior begins with a tiny sperm swimming toward a huge egg, to contribute its tiny Y chromosome plus its copies of the other chromosomes. Genetic, anatomic and physiologic alterations in the male ensue, making his brain and behavior different in specific respects from his sister. Brain-wise, specific cell groups develop differently in males compared to females, in some cases right after birth and in other cases at puberty. But genetics and neuroanatomy do not dominate the scene. Prenatal stress, postnatal stress and lousy treatment at puberty all can affect males and females in different ways. The upshot of all these genetic and environmental factors produces small sex differences in certain abilities and huge sex differences in feelings, in pain and in suffering. Put this all together and the reader will see that biological and cultural influences on gender roles operate at so many different levels to influence behavioral mechanisms that gender role choices are flexible, reversible and non-dichotomous, especially in modern societies.

This book provides a knowledge-based view to the dynamic capabilities in an organization. The author integrates two existing views on gaining competitive advantage: the Knowledge View which suggests that the capability of organizations to learn faster than competitors is the only source of competitiveness; and the Dynamic Capability View which speculates that a fi rm's competitive advantage rests on it's ability to adapt to changes in the business environment. Using the IT sector in India as a case study, this book provides and tests a new framework-Knowledge-Based Dynamic Capabilities-in the prediction of competitive advantage in organizations.

This serial provides a comprehensive survey of the major topics in the field of developmental biology. These volumes are valuable to researchers in animal and plant development, as well as to students and professionals who want an introduction to cellular and molecular mechanisms of development. The series has recently passed its 30-year mark, making it the longest-running forum for contemporary issues in developmental biology.
* Includes many descriptive figures
* Topics covered include the the development of synovial joints, sexually differentiated behavior, mapping cell fate, and more
* Latest volume in the series that covers six reviews in more than 220 pages

This serial provides a comprehensive survey of the major topics in the field of developmental biology. These volumes are valuable to researchers in animal and plant development, as well as to students and professionals who want an introduction to cellular and molecular mechanisms of development. The series has recently passed its 30-year mark, making it the longest-running forum for contemporary issues in developmental biology.
* Includes many descriptive figures
* Topics covered include the mammalian circadian proteins, cell death, tumor progression, and more
* Latest volume in the series that covers six reviews in more than 250 pages

Current Topics in Developmental Biology provides a comprehensive survey of the major topics in the field of developmental biology. These volumes are valuable to researchers in animal and plant development, as well as to students and professionals who want an introduction to cellular and molecular mechanisms of development. The series has recently passed its 30-year mark, making it the longest-running forum for contemporary issues in developmental biology.
* Includes many descriptive figures
* Topics covered include Wnt signaling, controlling regulatory networks, cartilage growth plates, and more
* Latest volume in the series that covers seven reviews in 300 pages

Current Topics in Developmental Biology provides a comprehensive survey of the major topics in the field of developmental biology. The volumes are valuable to researchers in animal and plant development, as well as to students and professionals who want an introduction to cellular and molecular mechanisms of development. The series has recently passed its 30-year mark, making it the longest-running forum for contemporary issues in developmental biology.
This volume contributes eight vital chapters in the latest developmental biology research.
* Over 280 pages of the latest research in developmental biology
* Includes the latest research in stem and srogenitor sells and their formation of the Pulmonary Vascular
* Covers the transplantation of undifferentiated, bone-marrow derived stem cells
* Offers an explanation of protein-protein interactions of the developing enamel matrix

Human Fertility: Methods and Protocols is intended for all practitioners of reproductive medicine and ART, as well as for embryologists and reproductive, developmental, cell and molecular biologists and others in the biomedical sciences. The volume presents straight-forward manner best practice approaches for overcoming a host of fertility challenges. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Human Fertility: Methods and Protocols aids scientists in continuing to study assisted reproductive technologies.

The discipline of developmental toxicology is an integration of concepts, models, and methodologies based heavily on the superimposition of toxicology principles upon the science of developmental biology. The science of developmental toxicology also borrows from other research areas that are concerned with regulation of cell growth, migration, differentiation and cell death, as such are central to the study of stem cells, cancer, and chronic diseases. In Developmental Toxicology: Methods and Protocols expert researchers in the field detail many of the methods which are now commonly used to study developmental toxicology highlighting the evolution of methods from classical teratology approaches to the dynamic, state-of-the-art molecular methods, systems biology, and next generation models and procedures. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology (TM) series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and key tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Developmental Toxicology: Methods and Protocols is a valuable resource to those planning experiments to investigate consequences of environmental, nutritional, or chemical effects caused during development.

Current Topics in Developmental Biology provides a comprehensive survey of the major topics in the field of developmental biology. The volumes are valuable to researchers in animal and plant development, as well as to students and professionals who want an introduction to cellular and molecular mechanisms of development. The series has recently passed its 30-year mark, making it the longest-running forum for contemporary issues in developmental biology.
* Includes information on the Zebrafish genetics and formation of embryonic vasculature
* Offers an analysis of muscle stem cells
* Provides data on diseases in the Drosophila fly
* Selection of 9 tables and 10 color figures

Much effort has been devoted to developing theories to explain the wide variation we observe in reproductive allocation among environments. Reproductive Allocation in Plants describes why plants differ in the proportion of their resources that they allocate to reproduction and looks into the various theories. This book examines the ecological and evolutionary explanations for variation in plant reproductive allocation from the perspective of the underlying physiological mechanisms controlling reproduction and growth. An international team of leading experts have prepared chapters summarizing the current state of the field and offering their views on the factors determining reproductive allocation in plants. This will be a valuable resource for senior undergraduate students, graduate students and researchers in ecology, plant ecophysiology, and population biology.
* 8 outstanding chapters dedicated to the evolution and ecology of variation in plant reproductive allocation
* Written by an international team of leading experts in the field
* Provides enough background information to make it accessible to senior undergraduate students
* Includes over 60 figures and 29 tables

In mammals, the major factors involved in the regulation of body growth are known: insulin-like growth factors (IGF) are key regulators of somatic growth. Growth hormone (GH), secreted by the pituitary gland, directly regulates circulating levels of IGF-I, which is the major coordinator of spatio-temporal growth of the organism. In humans, growth is even more complex, involving a number of specific characteristics not found in other species. These include rapid intrauterine growth, deceleration just after birth, a mid-childhood growth spurt, a second deceleration before puberty, an adolescent growth spurt, and finally full statural growth, which is seen somewhat later. The combined knowledge concerning the endocrine and paracrine aspects of growth have led to the introduction of treatment regimens, most effective in GH-deficient children. However, size depends on the combination of a number of genetic factors, and there remain several aspects of this complex process still poorly understood.

One of the major questions in the evolution of animals is the transition from unicellular to multicellular organization, which resulted in the emergence of Metazoa through a hypothetical Urmetazoa. The Comparative Embryology of Sponges contains abundant original and literary data on comparative embryology and morphology of the Porifera (Sponges), a group of 'lower Metazoa'. On the basis of this material, original typization of the development of Sponges is given and the problems concerning origin and evolution of Porifera and their ontogenesis are discussed. A morphogenetic interpretation of the body plan development during embryogenesis, metamorphosis and asexual reproduction in Sponges is proposed. Special attention is given to the analysis of characteristic features of the ontogenesis in Porifera. The book pursues three primary goals: 1) generalization of all existing information on individual development of sponges, its classification and a statement according to taxonomical structure of Porifera; 2) revealing of heterogeneity of morphogenesis and peculiarities of ontogeneses in various clades of Porifera, and also their correlations with the organization, both adult sponges, and their larvae; 3) revealing homology of morphogeneses in both Porifera and Eumetazoa, testifying to the general evolutionary roots of multicellular animals, and peculiar features of sponges' morphogeneses and ontogenesis. This book will be of interest to embryologists, zoologists, morphologists and researchers in evolutionary biology.

Current Topics in Developmental Biology provides a comprehensive survey of the major topics in the field of developmental biology. The volumes are valuable to researchers in animal and plant development, as well as to students and professionals who want an introduction to cellular and molecular mechanisms of development. The series has recently passed its 30-year mark, making it the longest-running forum for contemporary issues in developmental biology.
This volume contains nine important contributions from leading minds in developmental biology.
* Presents major contemporary issues and astonishing discoveries at the forefront of modern developmental biology, stem cells, cloning, and regenerative medicine
* Series Editor, Gerald Schatten, is one of the leading minds in reproductive and developmental science
* The longest-running forum for current issues in developmental biology with over 30 years of coverage

Current Topics in Developmental Biology provides a comprehensive survey of the major topics in the field of developmental biology. The volumes are valuable to researchers in animal and plant development, as well as to students and professionals who want an introduction to cellular and molecular mechanisms of development. The series has recently passed its 30-year mark, making it the longest-running forum for contemporary issues in developmental biology.
Volume 67, covers innovative topics such as Control of Food-intake through Regulation of camp, regeneration of deer antlers, factors affecting male song evolution in drosophila montana, skeletal stem cells in regenerative medicine, and so much more.
* Contains 10 vital contributions from leading minds in developmental biology
* Presents an analysis of contemporary topics such as regeneration of stem cells, drosophila montana, and programmed cell death in plants
* Offers 17 full color figures in detail of the chapters

Current Topics in Developmental Biology provides a comprehensive survey of the major topics in the field of developmental biology. The volumes are valuable to researchers in animal and plant development, as well as to students and professionals who want an introduction to cellular and molecular mechanisms of development. The series has recently passed its 30-year mark, making it the longest-running forum for contemporary issues in developmental biology.
This volume contains nine important contributions from leading minds in developmental biology.
* Presents major contemporary issues and astonishing discoveries at the forefront of modern developmental biology, stem cells, cloning, and regenerative medicine
* Series Editor Gerald Schatten is one of the leading minds in reproductive and developmental science
* The longest-running forum for current issues in developmental biology with over 30 years of coverage

The field of stem cell biology is geared towards translation into clinical practice through in vitro tissue production and regeneration therapy. Since the discovery of adult neurogenesis, much attention has been put on the study of differentiation of stem cells into neural cell types and the development of model systems for stroke and neurodegenerative diseases.

In addition to chapters on therapeutic applicability of embryonic, very small-embryonic like, mesenchymal stem and neural progenitor cells, this book covers signalling mechanisms guiding induction to differentiation and cell diversification. Furthermore, fundamental aspects of stem cell biology and neurogenesis, such as the importance of proliferation induction, programmed cell death and the function of glia in differentiation of stem cells and development of neuronal circuits, are also highlighted. In vitro cultures of embryonic, mesenchymal and neural stem cells as well as mobilization of endogenous stem and precursor cells for brain repair and replacement therapy in neurological disorders are important issues of this book.

Each chapter is written by researchers who are leaders in the field and provides an invaluable resource for information on the most current advances in the field and possible therapeutic applications, with discussions of controversial issues and areas of emerging importance. By providing an up-to-date and critical view of the state of Science, we hope that this book shall be a base for exciting scientific ideas regarding functions and therapeutic applications of stem cells in the adult brain. The book is directed to neuroscientists, physicians, students and all who are engaged and interested in the exciting and rapidly expanding field of modern neuroscience and stem cell biology.

More than two thirds of all living organisms described to date belong to the phylum Arthropoda. But their diversity, as measured in terms of species number, is also accompanied by an amazing disparity in terms of body form, developmental processes, and adaptations to every inhabitable place on Earth, from the deepest marine abysses to the earth surface and the air. The Arthropoda also include one of the most fashionable and extensively studied of all model organisms, the fruit-fly, whose name is not only linked forever to Mendelian and population genetics, but has more recently come back to centre stage as one of the most important and more extensively investigated models in developmental genetics. This approach has completely changed our appreciation of some of the most characteristic traits of arthropods as are the origin and evolution of segments, their regional and individual specialization, and the origin and evolution of the appendages. At approximately the same time as developmental genetics was eventually turning into the major agent in the birth of evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo), molecular phylogenetics was challenging the traditional views on arthropod phylogeny, including the relationships among the four major groups: insects, crustaceans, myriapods, and chelicerates. In the meantime, palaeontology was revealing an amazing number of extinct forms that on the one side have contributed to a radical revisitation of arthropod phylogeny, but on the other have provided evidence of a previously unexpected disparity of arthropod and arthropod-like forms that often challenge a clear-cut delimitation of the phylum.

Hedgehog-GLI Signaling in Human Disease represents the first compilation of up-to-date reviews by top-level scientists in this important field of research. The chapters cover a wide spectrum of related interests, from the molecular bases of morphogen function, to human genetics to cancer research. The aim of the book is to disseminate information on this exciting field, to allow students, scientists and the public in general to gain access current information from research leaders and to provide a book that encompasses different aspects of research showing the fusion of basic research in model systems and medicine. This is a timely primer on how a system of cell communication, Hedgehog-GLI signaling, plays a critical role in human disease and thus provides the background for the development of novel and rational therapies.

The acclaimed International Review of Cytology series presents current advances and reviews in cell biology, both plant and animal. Aricles address structure and control of gene expression, nucleocytoplasmic interactions, control of cell development and differentiation, and cell transformation and growth. Contributors to this volume include Yosef Gruenbaum, Sergey Razin, Johanna M. van der Wouden, J. M. Mitchison, Ora A. Weisz, and
Anne Regnier-Vigourous.
The acclaimed International Review of Cytology series presents current advances and reviews in cell biology, both plant and animal. Aricles address structure and control of gene expression, nucleocytoplasmic interactions, control of cell development and differentiation, and cell transformation and growth. Contributors to this volume include Yosef Gruenbaum, Sergey Razin, Johanna M. van der Wouden, J. M. Mitchison, Ora A. Weisz, and
Anne Regnier-Vigourous.