the span of just three decades, scientific understanding of the formation of embryos has undergone a major revolution. The implications of these new research findings have an immediate bearing on human health and future therapies, yet most nonscientists remain quite unaware of the exciting news. In this book, a distinguished geneticist offers a clear, jargon-free overview of the field of developmental biology. Benny Shilo transforms complicated scientific paradigms into understandable ideas, employing an array of photographic images to demonstrate analogies between the cells of an embryo and human society.

Introduction : exploring the principles of embryo creation -- It's all in the genes -- How an embryonic cell "decides" its future destiny -- How cells talk and listen to each other -- How do simple modules lead to complex patterns? -- How can a single substance generate multiple responses? -- How do patterns evolve rapidly? -- How are cells programmed to follow predictable routes to specification? -- Ensuring that embryo development is on the right track -- Shaping the tissues -- Stem cells -- What's next?.