Human Development

Summary

Each step in a human's development—from the creation of the brain and heart to the formation of the fingers and toes—is carefully regulated. During the approximately 264 days from fertilization to birth, a single cell gives rise to many cells, which take on specialized characteristics, and the group of cells that is the maturing human will take on form and pattern. Human Development examines the significant, well-understood events that take place during this intricate process. This fascinating title also discusses how the study of model organisms has aided our understanding of a human's creation and what happens when something is altered during the normal course of events.

Specifications

Full-color photographs and illustrations. Sidebars. Glossary. References. Further reading. Web sites. Index.

About the Author(s)

Ted Zerucha received his Bachelor of Science Honors degree in biochemistry and Master of Science degree microbiology from the University of Manitoba. He earned his Ph.D. in cellular and molecular medicine/anatomy and neurobiology at the University of Ottawa, where he studied at the Loeb Health Research Institute of the Ottawa Hospital. Zerucha has also held research positions at the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory. He now teaches biology at Appalachian State University. Dr. Zerucha has published a number of research papers, including articles in the Journal of Neuroscience, Mechanisms of Development, Biochemistry and Cell Biology, and Nucleic Acids Research, and he has also presented at conferences in North America and Europe.

Introduction by Denton A. Cooley, M.D., President and Surgeon-in-Chief of the Texas Heart Institute, Clinical Professor of Surgery at the University of Texas Medical School, Houston, Texas