Biomechanisms Regulating Growth and Development (Beltsville Symposia in Agricultural Research, 12)

The Annual Beltsville Symposium provides a forum for interaction among scientists involved in research that is vitally important to agri­ culture and to the agricultural sciences. The Twelfth Symposium in this series focused on the unifying biochemical and physiological mechan­ isms controlling growth and development of biological systems - ani­ mals, plants insects. Unraveling the complex biochemical mechanisms associated with the sequencing of organism growth and development and identifying, locating, and manipulating key control mechanisms are essential in utilizing the full potential of biotechnology for improving the composition and quality of agricultural products and the profitability of agriculture. Accordingly, speakers directed their remarks to basic aspects of biological mechanisms in their area of specialization with considera­ tion given to current status, future direction, potential impact, and limitations to progress. The Symposium addressed fundamental questions in: -Tissue specific gene regulation: cell division and differentiation -Mechanisms for regulating hormone concentration -Hormonal regulation of growth and development -Non-hormonal regulation of growth and development -Nutritional regulation of growth and development Because the backgrounds of the symposium attendees covered a wide spectrum in the basic biological and physical sciences, each topic was introduced by a brief overview, but general reviews were avoided in favor of findings from on-going research projects. The symposium brought together a distinguished group of invited scientists from around the world who are leaders. Many attendees made poster presentations which increased the exchange of ideas and sti­ mulated informal discussion. Front Matter....Pages i-xiv Introduction: A place in science....Pages 1-6 Front Matter....Pages 7-7 Genetic analysis of cellular differentiation in yeast: the cell cycle and meiosis....Pages 9-20 Regulation of gene expression by indoleacetic acid in pea epicotyl tissue....Pages 21-34 Variant forms of growth hormone and control of hormonal action....Pages 35-44 Genetic complexity of Drosophila oogenesis: Mutations affecting the establishment or maintenance of cell fate....Pages 45-68 Homeo box genes and animal development....Pages 69-75 Gene transfer for increased animal growth....Pages 77-85 Gene insertion: Role and limitations of technique in farm animals as a key to growth....Pages 87-97 Peptide production by and growth stimulation of lung cancer cells....Pages 99-104 Bacterial genes specifying cytokinin biosynthesis: sructure, function and control of expression....Pages 105-116 Front Matter....Pages 117-117 Neuroendocrine regulation of insect development....Pages 119-135 Strategies for the discovery of insect control agents: exploitation of biomechanisms regulating insect development....Pages 137-173 Genetical and chemical approaches to the metabolic regulation and mode of action of gibberellins in plants....Pages 175-204 Biosynthesis of ethylene and its regulation in plants....Pages 205-227 Mass spectrometry, genetics and biochemistry: Understanding the metabolism of indole-3-acetic acid....Pages 229-241 Front Matter....Pages 243-243 Mechanisms by which porcine somatotropin enhances pig growth performance....Pages 245-250 Brain neurotransmitters and circulating hormones in control of food intake, satiety and appetite for specific macronutrients....Pages 251-265 Front Matter....Pages 267-267 Patterns of phytochrome-induced gene expression in etiolated pea buds....Pages 269-284 Oligosaccharides as signals for plant defensive genes....Pages 285-289 Front Matter....Pages 291-291 Regulation of fetal growth:Importance of growth and tissue deposition in the pig....Pages 293-312 Front Matter....Pages 291-291 Ruminant splanchnic tissues - energy costs of absorption and metabolism....Pages 313-327 Influence of early plane of nutrition on enzyme systems and subsequent tissue deposition....Pages 329-341 Rhizobium trifolii polysaccharides, oligosaccharides, and other metabolites affecting development and symbiotic infection of clover root hairs....Pages 343-355 Front Matter....Pages 357-357 Mycorrhizas and plant growth and development....Pages 359-376 Agrobacterium as a gene vector for plants: transfer of genes involved in morphogenesis....Pages 377-393 The effects of infection on growth....Pages 395-408 The role of interleukin-1 in energy balance....Pages 409-420 Influence of Parasitic Infection on Growth-Related Hormones and Nutrient Utilization in Cattle....Pages 421-436 Influence of parasitism on growth of cattle possibly mediated through tumor necrosis factor....Pages 437-447 Back Matter....Pages 449-479 Invited Papers Presented at a Symposium held May 3-7, 1987, at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC), Beltsville, MD, USA