The Notochord: Development, Evolution and contributions to the vertebral column

The notochord and its cells are one of the least understood vertebrate organs, but this book integrates classical analytical studies with recent palaeontological, experimental, and molecular studies in both developmental and evolutionary contexts. It documents the fate of the notochord across the vertebrates and explores the structure, function, and fate of the notochord in adult vertebrates and notochord–cartilage relationships.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 252 pages
Publication date: 27 May 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The notochord and its cells are one of the least understood vertebrate organs, despite being the defining organ of the Chordata. This may be due to the fact that large parts of the notochord are often replaced with cartilaginous or bony vertebral bodies, raising questions about the evolutionary relationships between notochord cells and cartilage cells. This book integrates classical analytical studies with recent palaeontological, experimental, and molecular studies in both developmental and evolutionary contexts. For example, although the early signaling function of the notochord is conserved across the vertebrates, many will be surprised to find that the role of the notochord in vertebral body development in tetrapods is not the blueprint for all vertebrates. Recent studies on zebrafish and medaka embryos have uncovered the molecular mechanisms of a somite-independent notochord-driven segmentation process that establishes vertebral centra and intervertebral spaces. As this process is not restricted to teleosts, the authors have written a general discussion about the role of the notochord in vertebral formation. Modularity and segmentation of the vertebral column are related topics, and further overarching themes are the structure, function, and fate of the notochord in adult vertebrates and notochord–cartilage relationships. Key Features The first book devoted to notochord development, function, and evolution Includes and integrates information on the notochord from studies going back 169 years Integrates developmental, molecular, functional, experimental, and palaeontological studies Documents the fate of the notochord across the vertebrates Extensively illustrated with classical and new images Related.

Weight: 464g
Dimension: 234 x 155 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032162683