Principles of Development [Hardcover]

Lewis Wolpert (Author), Rosa Beddington (Author), Thomas Jessell (Author), Peter Lawrence (Author), Elliot Meyerowitz (Author), Jim Smith (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0199249393 | ISBN-13: 978-0199249398 | Publication Date: December 27, 2001 | Edition: 2

Led by Lewis Wolpert, an influential developmental biologist, this distinguished team of authors presents a new and revised edition of the best-selling and popular textbook Principles of Development. Central to their approach is an emphasis on principles and key concepts as well as the idea that understanding how genes control cell behavior is the key to comprehending development. The authors assume that students are familiar with the basics of cell biology and genetics but also provide thorough explanations of all key concepts in the text, such as the control of gene activity. The book focuses on those systems-such as vertebrates and Drosophila-that best illuminate the common principles of development, and also discusses other systems like the nematode and sea urchin. A unique feature of the book is its coverage of plant development, which is usually neglected in other textbooks but has significant relevance to the field of developmental biology. Full of spectacular illustrations and diagrams, Principles of Development, Second Edition, provides the excellent content and quality design of its predecessor, and also incorporates valuable new material.

Editorial Reviews

Review

`Review from previous edition Wolpert has done well, both in relation to the selection of which topics to include and in the level of detail at which they are presented ... Wolpert has taken great care to make things as clear and simple as he can.' Nature

`... the illustrations are the best I have ever seen. They are absolutely perfect ... The way in which they illuminate mechanisms, experiments and results will be a great help to students. ...All aspects of biology, from the historical to the epistemological, are beautifully presented. ...I am not a plant biologist but I agree that here we have `the best presentation of plant development available' (Scott Poethig, Philadelphia), even though the main focus is on vertebrates and Drosophila and other animal systems.' European Journal of Histochemistry

"Wolpert et al. employs many vivid, full-colour diagrams and drawings, supplemented with photographs. For the student, the illustrations are helpful for demonstrating complex topics." BioEssays, April 2003.

About the Author

Lewis Wolpert, Professor of Biology as Applied to Medicine, University College London. Rosa Beddington, Former Head of the Division of Mammalian Development at the National Institute for Medical Research, London (deceased). Thomas Jessell, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, University of Columbia, NY, USA.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 568 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 2 edition (December 27, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0199249393
• ISBN-13: 978-0199249398
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 7.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #868,368 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A good source of pretty pictures for your lecture presentation...., December 21, 2005

By 

Schmoo - See all my reviews

This review is from: Principles of Development (Hardcover)

I used Wolpert's text for an undergrad developmental course. Given that the test assumes previous coursework in genetics/biochemistry, the content of the book could've been more in depth, especially in the chapters on vertebrates. Sometimes extra detail makes the big picture easier to understand; this book leaves a little too much to mystery and results in a confused reader. The glossary and index leave much to be desired. On a more positive note, the illustrations and photographs are as good as you'll find in any textbook. However, I suggest Gilbert's text.

20 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars CAUTION: not a good intro to development, September 22, 2003

By 

"avemur1" (Naperville, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Principles of Development (Hardcover)

I am currently using this text for my 300 level developmental biology class. You know the saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words", well, this book is a thousand words without the pictures. It is very cumbersome to read. You know there is a problem when a book makes more sense when read in reverse. I am being very serious. FOr example, the author will be overly vague in introducing a topic, but still use specific terms without any prior introdution. Vital details necessary to understanding the text are given when needed. Throughout, terms are used before definitions are given, which makes the reader go nuts trying to figure out the meanings of more than half of the sentences.
Seriously, i do not understand the "excellent" reviews that others have given it.
I think it may be true that this book is VERY Comprehensive, but as far as clarity, theres none for students trying to understand the basics and a little more. If you are a professor, and know the material, then this book is probably a pleasure to read.
If you are like me, and just want to have a thorough understanding of the basics of developement, it would be in your best interest to look elsewhere.

15 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Textbook, January 24, 2000

By 

"ananja" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Principles of Development (Hardcover)

Wolpert's developmental biology textbook is evidently an excellent text in its field. The authors are all well recognized in thier research areas. The organization of the text is also very well written. The summary of the concept presented at the end of each chapter is helpful. The figures presented througout the text are clear and the language used to explain them is simple but very understandable. Compared with the well-known Gilbert's text, this text may be less in dept but you can get the concept from this book for only half of the time reading Gilbert's. It is a nice book to have both for the new beginner in the field and for just a quick reference.