Customer Reviews

Master Control Genes in Development and Evolution: The Homeobox Story (The Terry Lectures Series)

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Dr. Walter Gehring, a cell biologist and a researcher in developmental biology (evo-devo) is also a Professor at the Biozentrum of the University of Basel, Switzerland. Dr. Gehring and his team had studied closely how a 2-winged Drosophila can transform to a mutant 4-winged fly.

This book is the narrative of such study and how homeotic genes, also are present among most organisms including primates, perform this transformation. Dr. Gehring tells us that the homeotic genes are master control genes in development and evolution. What activates this (kind of off/on switch) is a stretch of DNA about 180 nucleotides long that encodes a homeodomain called a homeobox.

It's been a decade now since this book was published. And there have been very positive development in this field. But his research reaffirms the foundational understanding on developmental biology where most of biologists of our time owed to his research.

I have nothing but respect and admiration to Dr. Walter Gehring and his team. He is a master in his area of discipline. Whether you are teaching biology, a genetic researcher, an undergraduate in this field, or a reader who delights in developmental biology, you will find Dr. Gehring's book a worthwhile read.

Very scholarly done and a well-entertaining book.

I can say that I am the only one reader who is worriest to read this book.Oh my God,I got this book in the library first at the begining of 1999.In a week,including day and night,I read this lovest book from first page to the last page for my much hungry.And then,the second time to read it for its deep meaning and interesting history of homeobox gene.I think this book is too short to satisfy the reader like me for waiting it so long time.I hope Dr.Walter J.gehring publish another book on the homeobox gene in the future.Please let him know there is a reader waiting for his new book.This strange reader is a Mongolian( a minority in China) and he is even dreaming to become his student or a volunteer in his lab.I can promise htat this book is the most important one for the developmental genetics and the molecular genetics.Please read it as soon as possible.

One of the most famous scientists on the homeobox genes research on the world:Dr.Gwhring will give us a excellent book on the homeobox genes which will be the second one.I think publishers should publish more and more books like this,because this kind of books are too limit to be used.I am researching how to use this homeobox genes to the improvment of farm animals such as Mongolia sheep and the other animals.THe multivertebrae sheep among the Mongolia sheep is resulted from the mutation of Homeobox genes and this multivertebrae animal can produce more meat than the normal one on the same age and on the same envirenment.The multivtebrae sheep's vertebrae number is more than that of normal animal by one to two for thoracic or lumber,so can produce more ribs and meat and less fat.The book on the homeobox genes will be help us research the priciple of the genetics on this animal and undstand how the genes work on the vertebral animals and how the evolusion processeed.I believe that this book will be wellcome by all the develpmental genetic workers on the world and produce much more homoebox funs like me.

Good luck to this book and good luck to the homeobox genes.