TINKERING WITH INFORMATION - BIOLOGISTS EXAMINE THEIR PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

The first South African international Symposium on Developmental, Cell and Molecular Biology, 'Ex ova omnia - from the egg everything', rook place at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, from 21-2 4 January 1996 The symposium paid tribute to and honoured the original research and writings of Boris Ivan Balinsky, emeritus professor of z oology at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). The symposium wa s privileged to hear several eminent Wits and other South African alum ni, now living abroad, who came to be with us. The keynote and lending addresses were given by Sydney Brenner and Lewis Wolpert, and other p resentations by visiting alumni were given by Ben Kaminer, Ismail Kola and Hazel Sive. The support from other eminent scientists and dignita ries who contributed to the meeting was most encouraging. The symposiu m followed on the UNESCO-1CRO laboratory course on 'Imaging Cellular D ynamics During Development and Reproduction', which was held in the la boratories of the universit's zoology department (see accompanying art icle). This double feature event was organised by Barry Fabian, profes sor of zoology at Wits, and Gerald Schatten, professor of zoology, mol ecular biology and gynaecology/obstetrics at the University of Wiscons in, Madison. This article examines embryological history as seen throu gh the five editions of Balinsky's text an embryology, and then specul ates on the road ahead.