Book Recommendation
The Centrosome Renaissance, edited by Michel Bornens and Pierre Gönczy
Indeed, the latest book on centrosome research could have no better title, since the field of centrosome research really underwent an
exponential increase in recognition and impact. Already in the late 19th century the early cell biologists Theodor Boveri, Walther Flem-
ming and Edouard van Beneden recognized this peculiar organelle that was present already in the earliest eukaryotes as crucial for the
cell cycle and the understanding of cancer. Despite considerable progress in understanding the structural complexity of the centrosome
due to electron microscopic analyses during the second half of the 20th century, the knowledge about its molecular composition and
functions remained pitiful. This radically changed with the completion of the first genome projects, progress in analytical protein bio-
chemistry and fluorescence microscopy.
The two editors of this beautiful
book, Michel Bornens (Institut
Curie, Paris) and Pierre Gönczy
(EPFL, Lausanne) are among the
pioneers of the renaissance of
research on the main microtubu-
le-organizing center during the
last 20 years. They have gathered
an impressive collection of artic-
les from the experts of the field
covering all aspects of centroso-
me research, with main empha-
sis on the centriole-containing
type of centrosomes found in
animal cells. Nobody could exp-
lain the scope of this book better
than the two editors have done
themselves in their excellent and
informative preface. We got the
kind permission of the editors
and the publisher to reprint it
here for you in Cell News. I hope
you enjoy reading as much as I
did.
Ralph Gräf
