Book Description

Recent scientific breakthroughs, celebrity patient advocates, and conflicting religious beliefs have come together to bring the state of stem cell research—specifically embryonic stem cell research—into the political crosshairs. President Bush’s watershed policy statement allows federal funding for embryonic stem cell research but only on a limited number of stem cell lines. Millions of Americans could be affected by the continuing political debate among policymakers and the public.

Stem Cells and the Future of Regenerative Medicine provides a deeper exploration of the biological, ethical, and funding questions prompted by the therapeutic potential of undifferentiated human cells. In terms accessible to lay readers, the book summarizes what we know about adult and embryonic stem cells and discusses how to go about the transition from mouse studies to research that has therapeutic implications for people.Perhaps most important, Stem Cells and the Future of Regenerative Medicine also provides an overview of the moral and ethical problems that arise from the use of embryonic stem cells. This timely book compares the impact of public and private research funding and discusses approaches to appropriate research oversight. Based on the insights of leading scientists, ethicists, and other authorities, the book offers authoritative recommendations regarding the use of existing stem cell lines versus new lines in research, the important role of the federal government in this field of research, and other fundamental issues. ... Read more

Book Description

During gastrulation, tissue layers are formed and the overall body plan is established. This book is the definitive guide to this vitally important period in embryonic development, providing authoritative and up to date information that includes the first comprehensive interspecies comparison, cell movements and patterning events, the roles of individual genes and gene families, and the evolution of gastrulation. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent book for prospective and curious parents!
I found this book to be an excellent source of information valuable to all parents interested in the brain function of their children. Dr. Upledger has a way of taking complicated subjects and making them understandable to non medical people like myself. I found the cartoon drawings very helpful in bringing humor and easing what could be overwhelming or "scary" medical information.

Mostly an advertisement; poorly written.
Mostly an advertisement for the author's CrainioSacral therapy, this book is poorly written and full of crude hand-drawn figures. ... Read more

Book Description

This basic textbook of human embryology covers both clinical and molecular biological aspects of human development. It offers in-depth, thorough coverage of the latest information, including separate sections in each chapter on clinical relevance and experimental studies. Human Embryology also features a first rate, four-color art program with superb photographs and electronmicrographs. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Larsen's is an excellent textbook for students
I am research scientist (in neurobiology) and have used this textbook during a first-year medical school gross anatomy/embryology course and found it to be an extremely helpful companion to the instructor's lectures. I would highly recommend it to any instructor, medical student or resident, graduate student, or even to undergraduate Biology majors, although this book would probably be too advanced and technical for anyone else. I still have it on my bookshelf and it continues to be a handy reference for looking up answers to questions that come up.

So, WHY do I Iike this book so much? Embryology can be a challenging subject because it involves learning not only about 3-dimensional aspects of anatomy etc but changes in those 3-D features over time. The most valuable feature of this textbook -- for me at least -- is the great number and quality of color illustrations along with lots of photo images from a variety of imaging technologies (scans, microscopic, etc). There is a limit to what authors can describe in words alone and this book proves the saying that a picture is worth a thousand words. The writing is generally clear and concise, if a little dense at times due to the authors' strict adherence to a medical style of writing as well as medical terminology. Another helpful feature is the use of timelines in multiple parts of the book (intro, appendix, within chapters). Overall, the organization is pretty good: after the earliest milestones of development are covered, the chapters are then organized by organ or functional system, which means that successive chapters are often not in chronological order. Instead , adjacent chapters often discuss events that happen at different weeks, overlapping weeks, or sometimes during the same time-window. To some readers, this might seem like an odd way to organize things, but trust me it would be much more bewildering -- and practically impossible -- to do a chronological format and cover every system in each chapter, for instance in a chapter on "the 5th month", "6th month", etc. Brief mention of a few other features: 1) lots of "box" format descriptions of clinical disorders of embryological development at various stages (e.g. spina bifida), 2) includes some material on genetic and molecular biological aspects of development, 3) describes techniques used by researchers studying human and animal embryology.

Cautionary note: this text deliberately does NOT emphasize any particular organ/functional system, since it's aimed mainly toward medical students. If, for example, you're looking for in-depth coverage of the developmental biology of the brain/nervous system, you'll need to find a more specialized book . Also, for readers who prefer verbal/text presentation and don't find visuals all that helpful, I'd refer them to a different book that I've used and also shows up in a search for "embryology" titles at Amazon.com -- "Langman's Human Embryology" by Thomas Sadler.

Great book, essential to pass embryology material
This book covers the basics of embryology including outstanding diagrams. In places, it has too much detail, but it is very well written and the illustrations (essential for learning embryology) are beautiful.

Larsen'Human Embryology
I am professor of Embryology and I like this book because it covers all the itens. This is an update book: It covers the molecular aspects of this beautifull science.

A VERY POORLY WRITTEN AND BADLY ORGANIZED TEXTBOOK
Larsen's /Embryology/ is not a very good embryology book at all: it has little overall organization, lots of pedantic and unclear language, and does not convey much of anything concisely. Reading it is the same as reading a laundry list of terms. If you want to get a good embryology book, this one is **definitely** NOT the one. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

succinct review
It provides a precise and to the point review of what is required for the USMLE !

Best Test Prep Book I found
I used several prep. test books for the test and this one most closely matched the content of the exam. It covers many of the topics and it's explanations are perfectly detailed. It's a great tutor. It needs better diagrams and the version I read had an insulting degree of editing errors--the publisher informs me the edition currently for sale is corrected. Even with the errors, this was the best collections of printed tests I used. Good luck! ... Read more

Book Description

The cardiovascular system is the first functional organ system to develop in the vertebrate embryo. Embryonic growth and differentiation essentially depend on transport of nutrients and waste through the early vasculature, and certain events in morphogenesis are thought to be influenced by the hemodynamic forces of the beating heart. The vasculature not only serves as a "nutrient and waste pipeline" but is also a major communication system between distant organs and tissues.
The vascular endothelial cell mediates vascular growth, permeability, integrity and interactions with blood cells. In most tissues the endothelium itself is highly specialized to meet the particular needs of the tissue in terms of quality and quantity of incoming and outgoing molecules and messages. The areas covered by Morphogenesis of Endothelium include the formation of blood vessels in embryonic tissues by vasculogenesis and angiogenesis and the differentiation of endothelium in organs. The contributors are leaders ... Read more

Book Description

Representing the state-of-the-art in neurochemical mapping, Chemoarchitectonic Atlas of the Developing Mouse Brain provides a complete, full-color look at the developing mouse brain. Hundreds of coronal sections are presented, clearly illustrating structures at progressive stages of brain development. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Very useful
Each section of the mouse brain is shown in color stained for acetylcholinesterase, tyrosine hydroxylase, calretinin, calbindin, and 5-hydroxytryptamine. The Nissl stain, thionin, was also used. The structures in each brain section are labelled on each page. Brain sections from gestational ages E11/E12, E13/14, E15/16, E17/18 and the newborn are shown. ... Read more

Book Description

This book presents an anatomical overview of the changing form and structure of the human body. Although biomechanical embryology can be traced back to the 19th century, up until recently the most commonly accepted framework for the study of human ontogeny (development of the individual) was molecular biology, which all too frequently relied on findings from animal experiments that remained untested for humans. German embryologist and anatomist Erich Blechschmidt's research concentrates on the evidence presented by the human embryo itself. He offers a new approach to the study of early human growth as a way to shed light on the development of body build, instincts, gestures, language, mathematics, tools, and dress. ... Read more

Book Description

The definitive guide to modern embryology, this book is extensively illustrated with over 200 color and black-and-white images. The author describes and illustrates human prenatal development and staging with reference to molecular biology and discusses the possibility of following prenatal development with clinical methods of prenatal diagnostics. The development and staging of all embryonic systems are covered including, the cardiovascular system, skeletal system, urogenital system, lymphatic system, respiratory system, muscular system, and sensory organs. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The one book to read on this subject
If you're only going to read one book on this subject, or need one book for a paper or report, this is the go-to book. Dartmouth professor Ron Green was on a national commission that studied the use of human embryos in research and he provides an insider's look at the deliberations, politics, and pressures on his commission.
He also offers a balanced, humane, scholarly look at the question, plus accurate information on the embryology and biology surrounding the issue.All in all, a great book. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Med students only! !
This book of "specimens" was very horrific as a mother. Pictures of cut open fetus abdomens, cut out cross sections of the uterus, fetuses cut in half to show spine and rib structure. Not for the average reader!!! NOT for the expectant mother!!! Try "a child is born" for pictures of babies ALIVE and growing in the womb, much better choice for the curious reader who wants to see growth stages and fetal development.

Life before Birth
Very graphic. An excellent book for the Med student. Used it for a biology presentation.

A pro-lifers dream resource!
As a pro-life person, I often hear those who favor abortion state that the unborn isn't formed, doesn't look human/like a "baby", is a blob and pictures showing abortion...particularly 1st trimester, are "fakes". This book PROVES the pro-life position by showing what the unborn actually looks like and how completly developed it is even when very tiny! It also proves that the pictures we show are accurate and that the unborn isn't a blob of tissue, it is a tiny human with tiny organs! Amazing!

Too technical!
I was hoping to find a book that would give a detailed explanation of the developing fetus on a day-by-day basis. Unfortunately, the text was exceptionally technical, and the information was not organized in a timeline fashion. Instead, each chapter focused on one particular organ, and discussed its development in boring detail. In addition, the photographs of fetal cadavers were disturbing. This book would most likely be suited for a medical student who is studying the development of human organs. Not a good read for a woman investigating pregnancy!

Powerful
This book is great because it shows fetal development in each state. Good pictures and very informative. Everyone should take a look. ... Read more

Book Description

This text offers a comprehensive yet concise review of gross and developmental anatomy while discussing all of the relevant clinical information. The review chapters in the first section of the text are in a user-friendly outline format with high-yield information located in margin notes and clinical topics discussed within the outline and in clinical boxes. The second section of the book contains two 50-questions exams in USMLE format. A CD-ROM that accompanies the book contains a full-color art program, 500 board-style questions and answers with rationales for correct answers as well as all incorrect choices, and a quizzing function that gives scores at the end of the exams. ... Read more

Book Description

A discussion of all the key issues in the use of human pluripotent stem cells for treating degenerative diseases or for replacing tissues lost from trauma. On the practical side, the topics range from the problems of deriving human embryonic stem cells and driving their differentiation along specific lineages, regulating their development into mature cells, and bringing stem cell therapy to clinical trials. Regulatory issues are addressed in discussions of the ethical debate surrounding the derivation of human embryonic stem cells and the current policies governing their use in the United States and abroad, including the rules and conditions regulating federal funding and questions of intellectual property. ... Read more

Book Description

The completely revised and updated New Edition delivers comprehensive, clearly written coverage of the development of the human embryo from conception to birth. Using a classical morphological approach to embryology, it offers mechanistic explanations for both normal and abnormal human development, enabling readers to understand development in terms of cellular and molecular controls. And, a wealth of reader-friendly features make this resource exceptionally user friendly. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

It is a good basic book in developmental biology.
Carlson's "Human embriology and developmental biology" is a good book for biology and, most of all, medicine students, who want to understand the basical principles of development. It doesn't have a lot of developmental anatomy, but it explains clearly and simply the ultimate advances in experimental embriology. If you are for the first time studying developmental biology, you should read it. It also contains at the end of each chapter a lot references, which will help you if you want to learn more about any specific topic. ... Read more

Book Description

Did you know that your actions during pregnancy impact your child's health after birth and into adulthood? That what you eat, how much you exercise, your stress level, and your immediate environment are all key factors in determining your baby's predisposition to such conditions as heart disease, obesity, diabetes, stroke, cancer, even depression? Based on more than thirty years of rigorous scientific research, Dr. Nathanielsz's The Prenatal Prescription explains why this is so and what you can do about it.

Focusing on the main factors that directly affect the unborn child -- nutrition, stress, toxins, and exercise -- Dr. Nathanielsz lays out a clear and easy-to-follow program for "prenatal programming." He explains the science behind the fetal origins of adult disease, and offers tools that you can use to make your prenatal interaction with your baby memorable and beneficial.

Starting before conception, this simple prescription will change forever the way you think about preparing yourself for pregnancy. All parents want a long and healthy life for their child. The Prenatal Prescription explains how to make this a reality.

Reviews (3)

Great information AND great writing
There aren't many books out there that address ways you can prepare BEFORE conception to promote the health of your child. The Prenatal Prescription carefully details the ways in which you can prepare your body, both before and after conception, to provide a healthy environment for your developing baby.

There are two things that set this book apart from other preganancy prep books. The first is that Peter Nathanielsz has carefully surveyed the research literature to answer some of the questions that every parent wants to know during pregancy (e.g. Can I exercise? Is caffiene okay?). He sifts through the evidence to evaluate the current thinking on prenatal development. It's very helpful to have access to this information in a pregnancy book. He also addresses topics that the reader may not even know are pertinent to pregancy; the chapter on stress and its effects on fetal development is fascinating, and the chapter on exercise is worth the cost of the book alone.

The second thing that sets this book apart is its tone. Nathanielsz writes with clarity and with great respect for the mother-to-be. He presents complex information in a way that is easy to process and absorb. This is a nice balance point between overly cutesy popular press and the too-technical-for-laypeople scientific literature. Finally, he manages to convey the need to provide a good prenatal environment without terrifying the reader, frequently putting the information back into the context of the 'big picture'.

This is an excellent book for anyone just thinking about when to plan a family; some of the recommended changes may take time to put into place.

A great read. Incredibly helpful for anyone who's expecting.
Easy to read. Very informative and well written. I enjoyed it immensely.

prioity for pregnancy
The Prenatal Prescription should be read by all pregnant women and by their families. It helps everyone to prepare and plot their way through the crucially important period of pregnancy. Professor Nathanielsz explains exactly what happens to the foetus, and more importantly, what is essential for the good health of the unborn child and its mother. The guidelines which he presents here are of inestimable importance. The book is immensely readable, presented for the general reader: the science does not obstruct our understanding of the extraordinary, exciting story of pregnancy. ... Read more