Developmental Biology of Ascidians (Developmental and Cell Biology Series)

Ascidians, or sea squirts, are ubiquitous, sessile marine animals. In the field of developmental biology, the animal has long provided a model system for studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in so-called 'mosaic' development. The book first discusses the general and basic patterns of ascidian embryogenesis. It then moves on to discuss two important ways in which heterogeneity can be generated among embryonic cells: through prelocalised egg cytoplasmic information and through cell-cell interactions. These matters are covered in detail and the book finishes with discussions of colonial ascidians, ascidian regenerative abilities (which are considerable), and the fundamental problems associated with asexual development.