This text offers treatment of the molecular, cellular, and developmental cellular biology of amphibians - a synthesis of classical embryology and modern molecular biology that moves the discipline from taxonomy to the centre stage of contemporary biological research. Here, the origin, development, and differentiation of a wide range of amphibian organ systems from the fertilized egg to the completion of metamorphosis are reviewed in depth. Clearly emerging notions about the biology of cellular differentiation - a problem at the heart of biology today - are shown not only to be fundamental to the amphibia, but also generally extendable to all vetebrate groups. Coverage and features of the book include: the origin of amphibians; endocrine mechanisms of metamorphosis, principles of amphibian staging; comprehensive tables of staged specimens; the thyroid, pituitary, and hypothalamus; skeletogeny and its hormonal control; development of the musculature; development of the CNS; developmental biology of each organ system; induction phenomena; principles of cellular diversity; differentiation from fertilization through morphogenesis; molecular biology of cellular differentiation; receptors and differentiation; hormone-target response; and electron microscopy.