Biology of Fibrous Composites: Development beyond the Cell Membrane

This book tackles a major unsolved problem in developmental biology–how does chemistry create architecture outside cells? The underlying hypothesis of this book is that the fibers are orientated by self-assembly just outside the cells during a mobile liquid crystalline phase prior to stabilization; the author demonstrates that the commonest orientations of the fibers are plywood laminates (orthogonal and helicoidal), and as parallel fibers. Finally, he shows that these may be imitated in the laboratory by liquid crystalline chemicals. Many fine photographs will aid the initiated in recognizing the various kinds of fibers.