Overview

The development of a brain from its simple beginnings in the embryo to the extraordinarily complex fully-functional adult structure is a truly remarkable process. Understanding how it occurs remains a formidable challenge despite enormous advances over the last century and current intense world-wide scientific research. A greater knowledge of how nervous systems construct themselves will bring huge benefits for human health and future technologies. Unravelling the mechanisms that lead to the development of healthy brains should help scientists tackle currently incurable diseases of the nervous system such as autism, epilepsy and schizophrenia (to name but a few), discover more about the processes that cause the uncontrolled growth associated with cancer and develop possible treatments. Building Brains provides a highly visual and readily accessible introduction to the main events that occur during neural development and the mechanisms by which they occur. Aimed at undergraduate students and postgraduates new to the field, who may not have a background in neuroscience and/or molecular genetics, it explains how cells in the early embryo first become neural, how their proliferation is controlled, what regulates the types of neural cells they become, how neurons connect to each other, how these connections are later refined under the influence of neural activity including that arising from experience, and why some neurons normally die. Key Features: A concise illustrated guide focusing on the core elements of current understanding of neural development, emphasising common principles underlying developmental mechanisms and supplemented by suggestions for further reading. Text boxes throughout provide further detail on selected major advances, issues of particular uncertainty or controversy and examples of human diseases that result from abnormal development. A balanced mammalian/non-mammalian perspective, drawing on examples from model organisms including the fruit fly, nematode worm, frog, zebrafish, chick, mouse, ferret, cat, monkey and human, and emphasising mechanisms that are conserved across species. Introduces the methods for studying neural development including genetics, transgenic technologies, advanced microscopy and computational modeling, allowing the reader to understand the main evidence underlying research advances. Student-friendly, full colour artwork reinforces important concepts; an extensive glossary and definitions in page margins help readers from different backgrounds; chapter summaries stress important points and aid revision. Associated Website includes a complete set of figures from the textbook.

Full Product Details

9780470712290

Table of Contents

Reviews

This book is both well written and illustrated ... For clinicians, this book would be of interest to those who treat patients with disorders of Neural Development. In particular pediatric neurologists, developmental paediatricians and geneticists would appreciate this book. (Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences, 1 January 2012) Overall, a student-friendly guide for those new to the field of neural development. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and graduate students. (Choice, 1 December 2011) Building Brains, on the other hand, is a good start to understanding what goes on during the complex process that takes us from a tiny, simple cell to the complexities of the brain. (Lab Times, 1 July 2011) The main strength of Building Brains already becomes evident at this point: it is a highly visual book, and the graphics are very well thought through. In the introduction, each of the model animals is represented by a small black icon that re-occurs throughout the book whenever experimental evidence from that animal is presented... All in all, the book ‘does exactly what it says on the tin', providing an introduction to the subject, and an inspiring one at that. (J Physiol, 2011) Another way the authors have made this text accessible is with the layout and organisation...If were to come into the field again, Building Brains would be well worth a read. I think the authors have met the challenge of making neural development accessible, whilst keeping it enjoyable too. (BNA Bulletin, 2011) For undergraduates, for more advanced students studying medicine or any subject requiring an understanding of the nervous system, and for students entering such a field without prior knowledge of neuroscience - here's an accessible, yet rigorous, abundantly illustrated text offering a multifaceted approach. (Book News, 1 August 2011) With an extensive use of clear and colorful illustrations, this book makes accessible to undergraduates the beauty and complexity of neural development. The book fills a void in undergraduate neuroscience curricula, which would not be complete without an introduction to the important topic of nervous system development. --Mark F. Bear, Ph.D. Picower Professor of Neuroscience, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute “The book ‘does exactly what it says on the tin', providing an introduction to the subject, and an inspiring one at that. --J Physiol 589 (17), 2011

The main strength of Building Brains already becomes evident at this point: it is a highly visual book, and the graphics are very well thought through. In the introduction, each of the model animals is represented by a small black icon that re-occurs throughout the book whenever experimental evidence from that animal is presented... All in all, the book ‘does exactly what it says on the tin', providing an introduction to the subject, and an inspiring one at that. (J Physiol, 2011) Another way the authors have made this text accessible is with the layout and organisation...If were to come into the field again, Building Brains would be well worth a read. I think the authors have met the challenge of making neural development accessible, whilst keeping it enjoyable too. (BNA Bulletin, 2011) For undergraduates, for more advanced students studying medicine or any subject requiring an understanding of the nervous system, and for students entering such a field without prior knowledge of neuroscience - here's an accessible, yet rigorous, abundantly illustrated text offering a multifaceted approach. (Book News, 1 August 2011) With an extensive use of clear and colorful illustrations, this book makes accessible to undergraduates the beauty and complexity of neural development. The book fills a void in undergraduate neuroscience curricula, which would not be complete without an introduction to the important topic of nervous system development. --Mark F. Bear, Ph.D. Picower Professor of Neuroscience, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute “The book ‘does exactly what it says on the tin', providing an introduction to the subject, and an inspiring one at that. --J Physiol 589 (17), 2011

For undergraduates, for more advanced students studying medicine or any subject requiring an understanding of the nervous system, and for students entering such a field without prior knowledge of neuroscience - here's an accessible, yet rigorous, abundantly illustrated text offering a multifaceted approach. (Book News, 1 August 2011)<p> With an extensive use of clear and colorful illustrations, this book makes accessible to undergraduates the beauty and complexity of neural development. The book fills a void in undergraduate neuroscience curricula, which would not be complete without an introduction to the important topic of nervous system development. <br>--Mark F. Bear, Ph.D. Picower Professor of Neuroscience, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute<p> The book 'does exactly what it says on the tin', providing an introduction to the subject, and an inspiring one at that. <br>--J Physiol 589 (17), 2011

Author Information

David Price is Professor of Developmental Neurobiology, University of Edinburgh. Andrew Jarman is Professor of Developmental Biology, Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh. John Mason is Reader, Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh. Peter Kind is Reader, University of Edinburgh.

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