This lab manual is designed for upper level undergraduates or graduate students, to introduce them to the field of developmental biology. After spending two weeks learning how to handle and manipulate a variety of embryonic organisms, students will begin a series of experiments that more or less keep pace with the sequence of most developmental biology textbooks (axial patterning, plant cell totipotency, fertilization, early plant development, morphogenesis, cell adhesion, embryogenesis, gametogenesis, regeneration and metamorphosis. The manual is heavily illustrated and gives students a solid grounding in classic developmental biology as well as modern techniques in immunohistochemistry and homeobox gene expression. Appendices of recipes, needed chemicals, and sources for animals are included.

"All in all a clearly written laboratory aid that should prove highly useful to those involved in developmental biology." - Biologist (2004) 51 (3)

"Am I recommending it to collegues? Yes, because adpating the practicals described here is a good way to bring unfamiliar organisms into the classroom and can be used to let students explore points made in our own, different, courses. If you want to read about simple, tested developmental protocols for sponges, planaria, sea urchins, killfish, amphibians, chicks, beans and pondweed, this is a good place to start." - BioEssays 26: 1142