Developmental Biology

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Summary: a GREAT book for science students, teachers and all people.
Review: a Clear text where is explained all in a very interesting way and with a lot of really great pictures!!!.... if you want to learn about development, this is the book to shop.

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Summary: the ultimate guide to developmental genetics.
Review: As a student of biotechnology and bioinformatics, this text is the most informative book I have ever read. I gleamed more knowledge from this book than any other. It is amazing how much we have discovered about the genetics of development. I look forward to the next edition. the only thing missing was a complete listing of different phenotypes associated with different Hox code combinations.

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Summary: Outstanding in-depth intro to developmental biology
Review: I think Scott Gilbert has done an absolutely stupendous job in writing this clearly written, beautifully illustrated and up-to-date exposition of developmental biology. The concluding chapter on evolutionary developmental biology is brief but very well done. The websites associated with the book and the CD provide much additional information. Definitely the premier textbook in this area. Don't tackle it without having taken at least a course in cell biology, and some exposure to biochemistry and genetics would be helpful as well. The last time I read a dev bio textbook was when I was in college 30 years ago; how things have changed!

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding in-depth intro to developmental biology
Review: I think Scott Gilbert has done an absolutely stupendous job in writing this clearly written, beautifully illustrated and up-to-date exposition of developmental biology. The concluding chapter on evolutionary developmental biology is brief but very well done. The websites associated with the book and the CD provide much additional information. Definitely the premier textbook in this area. Don't tackle it without having taken at least a course in cell biology, and some exposure to biochemistry and genetics would be helpful as well. The last time I read a dev bio textbook was when I was in college 30 years ago; how things have changed!

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Summary: Good, but single author can't handle all
Review: My favorite developmental biology text of all time. Now in its' 6th edition it includes an interactive CD with videos and photos. It also has referenced many valuable websites. A truely great book with a fine sensibity to the historical perspectives of science and the complexity and beauty of natural forms. Gilbert publishes regularly in the field of develomental biology and his expertise is obvious.

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Summary: Raves for review
Review: My favorite developmental biology text of all time. Now in its' 6th edition it includes an interactive CD with videos and photos. It also has referenced many valuable websites. A truely great book with a fine sensibity to the historical perspectives of science and the complexity and beauty of natural forms. Gilbert publishes regularly in the field of develomental biology and his expertise is obvious.

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Summary: Good, but single author can't handle all
Review: This is a superb textbook which includes a wide scope of current developmental biology. The new version also embraces a modern interactive technology. It's really cool! The text is fluent and consistent because a single author wrote all the chapters. However, its drawback is that the author can't know all the things. This is contrast to other reputated textbooks such as Molecular Biology of the Cell, Principles of Neural Science, etc., written by multiple authors who have expertises in each chapter. Developmental biology has expanded and now covers evolution, plants, and even behavior. I think Dr. Scott Gilbert is a genius. But I can't believe he can handle all of these stuffs. It's time to ask some people to write each chapter.

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Summary: Mostly about animal biology
Review: This is very comprehensive introductory book in developmental biology starting from 18th century. Author very informed with the latest developments provides information on subjects based on latest developments. Illustrations are very nice, subjects cover all the phases of development, cell partitioning, gastrolization, transcriptional regulation,cell specification, cell to cell interaction, hormonal development and finale. author also has given a chapter on DNA and transcriptions. It is mostly about amphibians and insects and very limited on human. There are also up to date specilizied subjects introduced in frames for more curious minds. A book to be read over and over again as your knowledge in other fields increases.

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Summary: Good overview of developmental biology
Review: Well written and illustrated reference on animal development. This book covers basic principles of developmental biology, and then considers transcriptional regulation, control of development by RNA processing and translational regulation. Cell specification and cellular interactions are then considered. The last chapter considers developmental mechanisms in evolution.

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Summary: tough but pleasurable
Review: You definitly need some background in cellular and molecular biology and genetics to get a lot out of this book, but in that it represents the direction of developmental biology. This textbook is a worthwhile challenge, and if you have a knowledgable professor (as I do), you're sure to learn a lot (as I am).