The book gathers together papers that show the current state of knowledge of a branch of developmental biology. It is suitable for researchers in this field.



Of the topics covered, sirtuins might possibly be the best known to outsiders. These are found in resveratrol, an active ingredient of red wine. Several papers look at the role of these in aging. The exciting promise of being able to increase the replicative lifespans of cells, beyond the Hayflick limit, is mooted. Beyond this is the prospect that in turn the chronological lifespan of an entire organism might thusly be enhanced.



Overall, for sirtuins and other topics, the book shows an impressively growing understanding of mechanisms at the cellular level.