Form and Causality in Early Development

Originally published in 1938, this book presents a detailed examination of synthetic embryology. Intended neither as an introductory guide nor a systematic treatise, the text presents the most significant material regarding the ontogenetic problem as matters stood at the time of publication. Illustrative figures and a bibliographical index are also included. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in the development of embryology and the history of science.

Foreword; 1. The recent embryological movement and the scope of this book; 2. A brief outline of organogenesis, especially concerning chordates; 3. The kinematic aspect of embryogenic processes in chordates; 4. A comparative study of the presumptive territories in chordates; 5. The rôle of induction in vertebrate development; 6. Regional organization in the vertebrate germ, after cleavage; 7. The organization of the vertebrate egg before and during cleavage (with a theory of early vertebrate development); 8. The organization of the prochordate germ, with special reference to the unfertilized ascidian egg; 9. Field and gradient in the sea-urchin egg; 10. Regulation in some other eggs; Conclusion; Bibliographical index; Index of authors; Index of subjects.