The Cell Cycle and Development

This book brings together scientists working at the interface between the cell cycle, cell growth and development in a variety of model systems and research paradigms. The focus is on understanding how such diverse developmental inputs can modulate cell cycle regulation and, reciprocally, how a common way of regulating cell cycle progression can participate in different developmental strategies. Introduction (P. Nurse).

Pattern- and Growth-Linked Cell Cycles in Drosophila Development(B. Edgar, et al.).

Imprinted Genes and the Coordination of Fetal and Postnatal Growthin Mammals (W. Reik, et al.).

Regulation of the Embryonic Cell Proliferation by DrosophilaCyclin D and Cyclin E Complexes (C. Lehner, et al.).

Cell Cycle Transitions in Early Xenopus Development (J. Maller, etal.).

Cell Cycle Regulation in Early Mouse Embryos (J. Kubiak & M.Ciemerych).

Timing Cell-Cycle Exit and Differentiation in OligodendrocyteDevelopment (M. Raff, et al.).

Splitting the Chromosome: Cutting the Ties that Bind SisterChromatids (K. Nasmyth, et al).

The Cell Cycle Machinery an Asymmetric Cell Division of NeuralProgenitors in the Drosophila Embryonic Central Nervous System (W.Chia, et al.).

Spindle Positioning During the Symmetric First Cell Division ofCaenorhabditis Elegans Embryos (P. Gonczy, et al.).

Growth Factors Controlling Imaginal Disc Growth in Drosophila (P.Bryant).

The Temporal Control of Cell Cycle and Cell Fate in CaenorhabditisElegans (V. Ambros).

Responses to DNA Damage in Xenopus: Cell Death or Cell CycleArrest (J. Greenwood, et al.).

Control of Cell Fate in Plant Meristems (M. Hobe, et al.).

Final Discussion.

Index of Contributors.

Subject Index.

"These thirteen articles, and the full discussion that follows each, derive from papers given by specialists... at an April 2000 symposium in London." (SciTech Book News, Vol. 25, No. 4, December 2001) The Novartis Foundation is an international scientific and educational charity which promotes the study and general knowledge of science and in particular encourages international co-operation in scientific research.

This exciting book is based on a symposium that brought together leading scientists working at the interface between the cell cycle, cell growth and development in a variety of model systems. This research interface is just starting to emerge, and this symposium is the first to discuss these issues in depth - discussions that are included here along with the written papers.

The book begins with a thorough investigation into the relationship between the cell cycle and cell growth, and then continues with a discussion of cell size control, asymmetric cell division, the specification of cell fate decisions and cell death. The focus throughout is on understanding how such diverse developmental inputs can modulate cell cycle regulation and, reciprocally, how a common way of regulating cell cycle progression can participate in different developmental strategies. This provides an opportunity to identify the evolutionary conserved threads that have been utilized to coordinate cell cycle and developmental decisions.