Development of the Vertebrate Retina

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xix

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2. Cellular Aspects of Retinal Development

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-2

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   2. Neurogenesis and Maturation of Cell Morphology in the Development of the Mammalian Retina

      • Edward H. Polley, Roger P. Zimmerman, Richard L. Fortney

      Pages 3-29

   3. Retinal Rod Neurogenesis

      • Russell D. Fernald

      Pages 31-42

   4. The Regulation of Neuronal Production during Retinal Neurogenesis

      • Thomas A. Reh

      Pages 43-67

   5. Development of the Visual System in Hypopigmented Mutants

      • Maree J. Webster, Ursula C. Drager, Jerry Silver

      Pages 69-86

   6. Topographic Organization of the Visual Pathways

      • Alan D. Springer

      Pages 87-111

   7. Routing of Axons at the Optic Chiasm

      • Sally G. Hoskins

      Pages 113-148

   8. Dendritic Interactions between Cell Populations in the Developing Retina

      • V. Hugh Perry

      Pages 149-172

   9. Extrinsic Determinants of Retinal Ganglion Cell Development in Cats and Monkeys

      • Audie G. Leventhal, Jeffrey D. Schall

      Pages 173-195

3. Phylogenetic, Evolutionary, and Functional Aspects of Retinal Development

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 197-198

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   2. Development of Cell Density Gradients in the Retinal Ganglion Cell Layer of Amphibians and Marsupials

      • Lyn D. Beazley, Sarah A. Dunlop, Alison M. Harman, Lee-Ann Coleman

      Pages 199-226

   3. Developmental Heterochrony and the Evolution of Species Differences in Retinal Specializations

      • Kenneth C. Wikler, Barbara L. Finlay

      Pages 227-246

   4. Fish Vision

      • Russell D. Fernald

      Pages 247-265

   5. Development of Accommodation and Refractive State in the Eyes of Humans and Chickens

      • Howard C. Howland, Frank Schaeffel

      Pages 267-282

4. Back Matter

   Pages 283-287

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The vertebrate retina has a form that is closely and clearly linked to its func­ tion. Though its fundamental cellular architecture is conserved across verte­ brates, the retinas of individual species show variations that are also of clear and direct functional utility. Its accessibility, readily identifiable neuronal types, and specialized neuronal connectivity and morphology have made it a model system for researchers interested in the general questions of the genet­ ic, molecular, and developmental control of cell type and shape. Thus, the questions asked of the retina span virtually every domain of neuroscientific inquiry-molecular, genetic, developmental, behavioral, and evolutionary. Nowhere have the interactions of these levels of analysis been more apparent and borne more fruit than in the last several years of study of the develop­ ment of the vertebrate retina. Fields of investigation have a natural evolution, rdoving through periods of initial excitement, of framing of questions and controversy, to periods of synthesis and restatement of questions. The study of the development of the vertebrate retina appeared to us to have reached such a point of synthesis. Descriptive questions of how neurons are generated and deployed, and ques­ tions of mechanism about the factors that control the retinal neuron's type and distribution and the conformation of its processes have been posed, and in good part answered. Moreover, the integration of cellular accounts of development with genetic, molecular, and whole-eye and behavioral accounts has begun.

• Vertebrate
• behavior
• development
• evolution
• neurons

• Cornell University, Ithaca, USA

  Barbara L. Finlay

• Indiana University, Bloomington, USA

  Dale R. Sengelaub

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