From the cells of aquatic algae to the majestic redwoods towering 100 metres above the California coast, the history of plant evolution has been one of increasing complexity. The underlying rationale for this book is to answer the question: How, when land plant embryos at a few-celled stage are essentially comparable, do plants achieve such radically different adult phenotypes, from mosses to tree-ferns, and grasses to oak trees? The Molecular Organography of Plants chronicles the origin, and importance, of the complex plant organs that have allowed plants to shape the earth's biosphere, and seeks to explain why and how the genetic mechanisms governing these developmental trajectories have diverged so much. It provides a detailed account of the organs produced by land plants (stems, roots, leaves, seeds, flowers) into which is incorporated what is rapidly becoming known of the molecular mechanisms responsible. Plant organs are therefore discussed in the context of the evolution of development ("evo-devo"), and their basis in molecular developmental genetics is described. The result is a novel synthesis of classical morphology and molecular developmental biology that takes a broad look at the evolution of plant form.

About the Author
Quentin Cronk was educated at the University of Cambridge where he became a Fellow of Corpus Christi College. He subsequently taught at the Universities of Oxford and Edinburgh before taking up his present position as Professor in Plant Science at the University of British Columbia, Canada.

Reviews
In this book, Quentin C.B. Cronk admirably attempts to bring together a spectrum of scientific approaches. The book is a detailed compendium of the current status of plant organography from morphological, evolutionary, and developmental genetic perspectives. * Integrative and Comparative Biology *
Cronk's excellent book is timely, scholarly and important, bringing together the evolution, anatomy and morphology of the major plant organs and how they develop...I would recommend this book to all botanists who need bringing up to date in this fast-moving area of research. It is an enjoyable read and excellent value at the price. * J.R Barnett, Annals of Botany *



Book Information
ISBN 9780199550364
Author Quentin Cronk
Format Paperback
Page Count 272
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 1g
Dimensions(mm) 245mm * 189mm * 13mm