The making of a fly : the genetics of animal design

Understanding how a multicellular animal develops from a single cell (the fertilized egg) poses one of the greatest challenges in biology today. Development from egg to adult involves the sequential expression of virtually the whole of an organism's genetic instructions both in the mother as she lays down developmental cues in the egg, and in the embryo itself. Most of our present information on the role of genes in development comes from the invertebrate fruit fly, "Drosophila." The two authors of this text (amongst the foremost authorities in the world) follow the developmental process from fertilization through the primitive structural development of the body plan of the fly after cleavage into the differentiation of the variety of tissues, organs and body parts that together define the fly. The developmental processes are fully explained throughout the text in the modern language of molecular biology and genetics. This text represents the vital synthesis of the subject that many have been waiting for and it will enable many specific courses in developmental biology and molecular genetics to focus on it. It will appeali to 2nd and 3rd year students in these disciplines as well as in biochemistry, neurobiology and zoology. It will also have widespread appeal among researchers. Authored by one of the foremost authorities in the world. A unique synthesis of the developmental cycle of "Drosophila" - our major source of information on the role of genes in development. Designed to provide the basis of new courses in developmental biology and molecular genetics at senior undergraduate level. A lucid explanation in the modern language of the science. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 7 Preface......Page 9 Introduction......Page 11 1 The mother and the egg......Page 14 The blastoderm and the pole cells......Page 22 Gastrulation......Page 26 Segmentation......Page 31 2 The first coordinates......Page 38 The anteroposterior gradient......Page 39 Genes and the anteroposterior pattern......Page 41 Posterior pattern......Page 46 The terminal system......Page 51 The dorsoventral system......Page 55 Elaboration: the first zygotic genes......Page 63 bicoid, hunchback and the molecular vernier......Page 64 Gap genes: control and mutual interactions......Page 70 The terminal system......Page 75 The dorsoventral system......Page 77 Elaboration in the anteroposterior axis: the functions of gap genes......Page 81 The positioning of a stripe......Page 82 Further elaboration: the allocation of individual cells......Page 91 The link with genetics......Page 101 Segments and parasegments......Page 104 Segmentation of the mesoderm......Page 106 How are the cells allocated to parasegments?......Page 108 Segment polarity genes......Page 114 Diversification of pattern: the selector genes......Page 120 The homeobox......Page 127 The bithorax complcx......Page 128 Bithorax complex — the neurectoderm......Page 136 The bithorax complex and engrailed — the somatic mesoderm......Page 138 What determines the segment-specific pattern of muscles?......Page 139 The bithorax complex in the visceral mesoderm......Page 143 The Antennapedia complex......Page 145 Spatial regulation of selector genes......Page 146 Other selector genes?,......Page 147 Pattern formation, gradients and polarity......Page 153 Cell polarity......Page 154 Gradient experiments......Page 155 Gradient, segments and parasegments......Page 164 Competition and compartments......Page 165 Growth and gradients......Page 167 Shape and genetics......Page 169 Spacing patterns and neurogenesis......Page 175 Spacing patterns — a model......Page 176 Landmark bristles......Page 179 Competition — the evidence......Page 181 Lateral inhibition — the role of the lin-12 and Notch genes......Page 187 What kind of bristle or neuroblast?......Page 189 The lineage of bristle cells and neuroblasts......Page 190 8 The eye......Page 197 Conclusions......Page 212 History short stories......Page 215 The segmentation genes......Page 216 The morphogenetic gradient......Page 219 engrailed: the life history of a gene......Page 222 The history of the bithorax complex......Page 226 The discovery of the homeobox......Page 231 Transforming flies......Page 234 List of quotations......Page 238 Index......Page 239 Back cover......Page 243 Cover 1 Contents 7 Preface 9 Introduction 11 1 The mother and the egg 14 The blastoderm and the pole cells 22 Gastrulation 26 Segmentation 31 2 The first coordinates 38 The anteroposterior gradient 39 Genes and the anteroposterior pattern 41 Posterior pattern 46 The terminal system 51 The dorsoventral system 55 3 Patterning the embryo 63 Elaboration: the first zygotic genes 63 The anteroposterior system — interpreting the bicoid gradient 64 bicoid, hunchback and the molecular vernier 64 The hunchback gradient and the other gap genes 70 Gap genes: control and mutual interactions 70 The terminal system 75 The dorsoventral system 77 Elaboration in the anteroposterior axis: the functions of gap genes 81 The pair rule genes 82 The positioning of a stripe 82 4 Cell lineage and cell allocation 91 Further elaboration: the allocation of individual cells 91 The link with genetics 101 Segments and parasegments 104 Segmentation of the mesoderm 106 How are the cells allocated to parasegments? 108 Segment polarity genes 114 5 Selector genes 120 Diversification of pattern: the selector genes 120 The homeobox 127 The bithorax complcx 128 Bithorax complex — the neurectoderm 136 The bithorax complex and engrailed — the somatic mesoderm 138 What determines the segment-specific pattern of muscles? 139 The bithorax complex in the visceral mesoderm 143 The Antennapedia complex 145 Spatial regulation of selector genes 146 Other selector genes?, 147 6 Positional information and polarity 153 Pattern formation, gradients and polarity 153 Cell polarity 154 Gradient experiments 155 Gradient, segments and parasegments 164 Competition and compartments 165 Growth and gradients 167 Shape and genetics 169 7 Spacing patterns, 175 Spacing patterns and neurogenesis 175 Spacing patterns — a model 176 Landmark bristles 179 Competition — the evidence 181 Lateral inhibition — the role of the lin-12 and Notch genes 187 What kind of bristle or neuroblast? 189 The lineage of bristle cells and neuroblasts 190 8 The eye 197 Conclusions 212 History short stories 215 The segmentation genes 216 The morphogenetic gradient 219 engrailed: the life history of a gene 222 The history of the bithorax complex 226 The discovery of the homeobox 231 Transforming flies 234 List of quotations 238 Index 239 Back cover 243 Understanding how a multicellular animal develops from a single cell (the fertilized egg) poses one of the greatest challenges in biology today. Development from egg to adult involves the sequential expression of virtually the whole of an organism's genetic instructions both in the mother as she lays down developmental cues in the egg, and in the embryo itself. Most of our present information on the role of genes in development comes from the invertebrate fruit fly, Drosophila. The two authors of this text (amongst the foremost authorities in the world) follow the developmental process from fertilization through the primitive structural development of the body plan of the fly after cleavage into the differentiation of the variety of tissues, organs and body parts that together define the fly. The developmental processes are fully explained throughout the text in the modern language of molecular biology and genetics. This text represents the vital synthesis of the subject that many have been waiting for and it will enable many specific courses in developmental biology and molecular genetics to focus on it. It will appeali to 2nd and 3rd year students in these disciplines as well as in biochemistry, neurobiology and zoology. It will also have widespread appeal among researchers.

• 
  
• Authored by one of the foremost authorities in the world.
  
• A unique synthesis of the developmental cycle of Drosophila - our major source of information on the role of genes in development.
  
• Designed to provide the basis of new courses in developmental biology and molecular genetics at senior undergraduate level.
  
• A lucid explanation in the modern language of thescience.

"...a landmark book...fills a huge void and will be sure to inspire a generation of developmental biologists."--Nature"

Most of the present information on the role of genes in development comes from the invertebrate fruit fly, Drosophilia. This book traces the developmental process from fertilization to the formation and differentiation of organs and tissues. Each phase of development is treated in detail.