Description
We have entered an era of achievement in the fields of molecular biology, genetics, and clinical embryology, perhaps like no other. The sequencing of the human genome has been achieved and several mammalian species, as well as the human embryo, have been cloned. Scientists have created and isolated human embryonic stem cells, and their use in treating certain intractable diseases continues to generate widespread debate. These remarkable scientific developments have already provided promising directions for research in human embryology, which will have an impact on medical practice in the future.
The 10th edition of The Developing Human has been thoroughly revised to reflect current understanding of some of the molecular events that guide development of the embryo. This book also contains more clinically oriented material than previous editions; these sections are set as blue boxes to differentiate them from the rest of the text. In addition to focusing on clinically relevant aspects of embryology, we have revised the Clinically Oriented Problems with brief answers and added more case studies online that emphasize the importance of embryology in modern medical practice.
This edition follows the official international list of embryologic terms (Terminologia Embryologica, Georg Thieme Verlag, 2013). It is important that physicians and scientists throughout the world use the same name for each structure.
This edition includes numerous new color photographs of embryos (normal and abnormal). Many of the illustrations have been improved using three-dimensional renderings and more effective use of colors. There are also many new diagnostic images (ultrasound and magnetic resonance image) of embryos and fetuses to illustrate their three-dimensional aspects. An innovative set of 18 animations that will help students understand the complexities of embryologic development now comes with this book. When one of the animations is especially relevant to a passage in the text, the icon has been added in the margin. Maximized animations are available to teachers who have adopted The Developing Human for their lectures (consult your Elsevier representative).
The coverage of teratology (studies concerned with birth defects) has been increased because the study of abnormal development of embryos and fetuses is helpful in understanding risk estimation, the causes of birth defects, and how malformations may be prevented. Recent advances in the molecular aspects of developmental biology have been highlighted (in italics) throughout the book, especially in those areas that appear promising for clinical medicine or have the potential for making a significant impact on the direction of future research.