The organizer area plays a central role in the formation of the embryonic axis and the central nervous system of all vertebrates including the human fetus. In The Vertebrate Organizer, outstanding molecular development biologists and embryologists report their latest approaches in this fascinating research area using different vertebrate model organisms. The presented data is of central importance for the understanding of early human embryogenesis.

Part I: EARLY STEPS LEADING TO THE FORMATION OF THE ORGANIZER. Maternal VegT and b catenin: Patterning the Xenopus Blastula

Short VS. Long range effcts of Spemann's Organizer
Formation of the Endoderm in Xenopus
Role of Fox genes during Xenopus embryogenesis. Part II: THE ROLE OF THE ORGANIZER. The Molecular Nature of Spemann's Organizer
The community effect in Xenopus development
Regulation of Spemann's organizer formation
Transcriptional Repression in the Spemann Organizer and the Formation of Dorsal Mesoderm
Wnt signals and antagonists: The molecular nature of Spemann's head organizer
Basic helix-loop-helix proneural genes and neurogenesis in Xenopus embryos
Organizer activities mediated by retinoic acid signaling
Wnt signalling and regulation of gastrulation movements. Part III: THE ORGANIZER AND PATTERN FORMATION How Cell - Cell Adhesion Contributes To Early Embryonic Development
Patterning Non-neural Ectoderm by Organizer-modulated Homeodomain Factors. Part IV: AXIS FORMATION AND ORGANOGENESIS. Embryonic body formation and organogenesis in amphibian development
Organizing the eye
A critical role for retinoid receptors in axial patterning and neuronal differentiation
Molecular patterning of the embryonic brain
Epidermal, neuronal and glial cell fate choice in the embryo
Downstream of the Organizer: The Xenopus cement gland as a model for organ positioning and differentiation. Part V: ORGANIZER FORMATION IN DIFFERENT VERTEBRATES The organizer in amphibians with large eggs: problems and perspectives
Formation and Functions of the Gastrula Organizer in Zebrafish
Hensen's node: The embryonic organizer of the chick
Formation and Function of the Mouse Organizer.