Product Description: Completely updated and revised in a new edition, Principles of Development presents major principles and concepts in the field for an undergraduate audience. Emphasizing gene control as the key to understanding development, the third edition is written in accessible prose, utilizing an impressive art program - 650 full color figures - as well as summaries and diagrams throughout the text to illuminate conceptually challenging material. In addition, the third edition presents carefully selected articles for further reading that expound on principles covered in the text.
A good source of pretty pictures for your lecture presentation.... 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.
CAUTION: not a good intro to development 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.
An Excellent Textbook 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.
Greatest revolution of text in development @I read this book for 2 months. Chapters of regeneration is more impressive than any other chapters.Moreover, I impressed that this bppk is best for beginners and students. Composition is also excellent.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Trevor
