Molecular Genetics of Early Human Development

Human developmental disorders are a significant clinical burden and a focus of intensive research. Traditionally, mouse embryos have been used to model patterns of early human development. However, there is increasing evidence to show that early human and mouse development are substantially different, both at the anatomical level and at the level of gene expression. This means that the mouse is limiting as a model of human development and has necessitated a new direction in the path of developmental research with more emphasis on molecular genetical approaches in humans.
This book is the first to review the new and exciting genetic approach to the study of early human development. The novel research is discussed by leading scientists in the field. These approaches are then put into perspective with a summary of clinical relevance, ethical issues, historical background, anatomical and other biological studies, and the continuing importance of mouse studies. The book is essential reading for researchers in development, and the broader issues will appeal to a wider audience, including clinicians and molecular geneticists.