"Current Topics in Developmental Biology" follows the tradition of this serial as a forum for incisive and critical analyses. This volume brings together regulation of flowering, regulation of cell cycle, mechanisms of gasrulation, neurulation, and pattern formation, and the role of transcription factors in gene regulation. These articles cover a cross-section of current research in plant and animal development - from the level of molecular aspects of gene regulation to organismal structure, or from molecules to mammals. Reviews featured discuss plant and animal developmental biology; transcription factors and development; cellular and molecular aspects of gasrulation; marsupial and placental embryos in mammalian development.