Topobiology: An Introduction to Molecular Embryology

By Gerald M. Edelman

Book Overview

If you had a complete copy of a dinosaur's DNA and the genetic code, you still would not be able to make a dinosaur--or even determine what one looked like. Why? How do animals get their shape and how does shape evolve? In this important book, Nobel laureate Gerald M. Edelman challenges the notion that an understanding of the genetic code and of cell differentiation is sufficient to answer these questions. Rather, he argues, a trio of related issues must also be investigated--the development of form, the evolution of form, and the morphological and functional bases of behavior. Topobiology presents an introduction to molecular embryology and describes a comprehensive hypothesis to account for the evolution and development of animal form.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0465086349
• ISBN13: 9780465086344
• Release Date: November 1988
• Publisher: Basic Books
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 1.26 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Interactions between cell surfaces allow embryo to develop

Analytic and innovative, yet fairly easy to read, book on the place-dependent interactions of cell surfaces with other cell surfaces that regulate the processes of embryological development in metazoans (ie, animals).

Heavy going, big payoff

Edelman's Topobiology provides an excellent introduction to the field of molecular embryology. In the book you will be introduced to CAMs (cell adhesion molecules), SAMs (substrate adhesion molecules), and CJMs (cell junction molecules) that are produced and used by the body to keep itself organized and literally stuck together as it develops and grows. The processes of development and growth are extremely complex, and involve interactions among many different entities in the body. As the header suggests, this book is not an easy read; it presents abstract concepts, and the author uses extremely complex sentence constructions to tell his story. This is not a book for the faint of heart, it is written with the professional biologist in mind.If you have the strength and the courage, I suggest that you give this book a tryP.S. I am the "reader" from Manchester College in the previous review -- I didn't get my name on that one though.

Thick going, but worth the effort

Edelman's Topobiology provides an excellent introduction to the field of molecular embryology. In the book you will be introduced to CAMs (cell adhesion molecules), SAMs (substrate adhesion molecules), and CJMs (cell junction molecules) that are produced and used by the body to keep itself organized and literally stuck together as it develops and grows. The processes of development and growth are extremely complex, and involve interactions among many different entities in the body.As the header suggests, this book is not an easy read; it presents abstract concepts, and the author uses extremely complex sentence constructions to tell his story. This is not a book for the faint of heart, it is written with the professional biologist in mind.If you have the strength and the courage, I suggest that you give this book a try.