Volumes 2
Table of Contents (26k)
Preface (29k)
Chapter 9: A Cornucopia of Differentiation Waves
Chapter 9.01: Activation Wave (14k)
Chapter 9.02: Cleavage Waves (31k)
Chapter 9.03: The Compaction Waves (8k)
Chapter 9.04: Mitotic Waves (33k)
Chapter 9.05: Quantal Mitoses and a Model for Limb Morphogenesis (19k)

Over the past few decades numerous scientists have called for a unification of the fields of embryo development, genetics, and evolution. Each field has glaring holes in its ability to explain the fundamental phenomena of life. In this book, the author shows how the phenomenon of cell differentiation, considered in its temporal and spatial aspects during embryogenesis, provides a starting point for a unified theory of multicellular organisms (plants, fungi and animals), including their evolution and genetics. This unification is based on the recent discovery of differentiation waves by the author and his colleagues, described in the appendices, and illustrated by a flip movie prepared by a medical artist. To help the reader through the many fields covered, a glossary is included.

This book will be of great value to the researcher and practicing doctors/scientists alike. The research students will receive an in-depth tutorial on the topics covered. The seasoned researcher will appreciate the applications and the gold mine of other possibilities for novel research topics.

Contents:

• Neural Induction and the Organizer
• Theory of the Cell State Splitter
• Development and Genetics
• Development and Evolution
• Macroevolution
• The Biogenetic Law
• The Homeobox
• A Cornucopia of Differentiation Waves

"The Hierarchical Genome cleverly fuses theoretical physics and embryology in a manner that is accessible to the novice physicist and molecular biologist alike. The superb use of historical ancedotes to illustrate the progression of the author's ideas made the book a pleasure to read. As a framework for future experimentation, this work argues convincingly for the use of physical principles in our treatment of developmental genetics."

"It is rare in science to see an individual challenge the traditional view. Dr Richard Gordon by doing so, shows how the discovery of an unusual wave on the surface of a salamander embryo has radical implications for the unification of the forces of evolution, genetics and development. This book, his magnum opus, is a major achievement in all these disciplines."

"Richard Gordon, discover of "differentiation waves" in embryogenesis, has now written an Opus Magnum on the theoretical frontier. The Hierarchical Genome provides a whole new synthesis of development, genetics, and evolution in that it distils the essentials of the logic of evolution in each of the respective domains. Based on the agency of logical, rather than merely physical, differentiation trees on each level, Gordon provides strong support for the idea of a "fractal evolution", which must be seen as a novel and promising alternative to the more constraining options of gradualism or punctuated equilibrium ... The book is strongly recommended for anyone interested in a high-level discussion of the basic principles of evolution."

"A talented theoretical biologist, Gordon presents a comprehensive, thorough and radically-new look at developmental biology. Even if one does not accept his interpretation of development in terms of cell state splitters and differentiation waves, the book is a fresh, amazing and fascinating summary uniting key fields in biology."

"... as a magnum opus, or a chance for a scientist to expound ideas at leisure and set out a vision, it's a remarkable achievement."

"The author is certainly a polymath with a sound judgment on widely different areas of knowledge ... Readers who have the luxury of leisurely going through hard facts intertwined with historical and philosophical diversions will find the book delightful."