Embryos, Genes and Birth Defects (PDF)

The first edition of Embryos, Genes and Birth
Defects, edited by the late Peter Thorogood, was a radical
new book aimed at bridging the gap between the medical disciplines
of embryology and dysmorphology, and recent advances in cellular,
molecular and developmental biology. This new edition remains
unique in its breadth and brings up to date our understanding of
birth defects and of the strategies utilized to gain such
knowledge. It features new chapters on human cytogenetics,
mutagenesis and the eyes and ears.

The book presents key topics in developmental biology and
explains how they provide the foundations for understanding
clinical birth defects. The first six chapters introduce concepts
and strategies adopted to elucidate developmental anomalies leading
to birth defects. The book then focuses on specific organs and
reviews the cellular and molecular mechanisms affecting their
development and how disruption of these mechanisms by genetic or
environmental factors may underlie certain birth defects. The
chapters are concise and provide up-to-date coverage of topics in a
format that is easily accessible and yet at the forefront of
research.

Written primarily for paediatricians, obstetricians, clinical
geneticists and allied workers, this book guides the reader through
the contribution of modern molecular biology to our understanding
of human development. Developmental and cellular biologists will
learn how errors in the cellular and genetic mechanism can lead to
classical disorders, diseases and syndromes.