This book is a comprehensive synthesis of current knowledge about the influence of genetic or genomic material on developing body cells. Written by a leading developmental biologist, this book brings together a century of research on a wide range of questions. In particular, it focuses on the question of whether genetic changes are irreversible after somatic cell specialization has taken place during cell development. Providing a full historical survey of the development of nuclear transplantation in unicellular and multicellular organisms, the book has great value in the search for a genetic cure for cancer and other biomedical cellular disorders, some of which may be alleviated by inducing activation of dormant genes to restore health. Unique in scope, depth and clarity of presentation, "Genomic Potential of Differentiated Cells" stands as a major contribution to current knowledge in cell, developmental and molecular biology, and in eukaryotic genetics and biochemistry. It should serve students, researchers and clinicians alike.