Extracellular Matrix Influences on Gene Expression emerged from the Second international Santa Catalina Island Colloquium that deals with the discussion on the advances in the molecular biology of extracellular matrices and the epigenetic influences on cell function. Topics discussed include morphological descriptions, genetics, teratology, collagen heterogeneity, and mineralization. The book's 12 chapters discuss the chromosomal and extrachromosomal influences upon transcription, translational and post-translational regulations during development, and regulation of extracellular matrix molecular biosynthesis. The book describes the regulation of tissue-specific collagen biosynthesis and the extracellular matrix macromolecules. It contains papers that explain the outer cell surface specificity and cell interactions. Because there are advances as well in other specific topics, such as the epithelial-masenchymal interactions and extracellular matrix influences on gene expression, this book contains papers that deal with these subject matters. Furthermore, it explains the matrix-cell and cell-matrix interactions and mineralization processes, as well as the aberrations in developmental processes. This book will be useful to those individuals who study the scientific advances in developmental biology.