Bruce M. Carlson, MD, PhD, is Professor Emeritus of Anatomy in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology in the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor. He served as chair of that department from 1998-2000. He is also Research Professor Emeritus in the school’s Institute of Gerontology, of which he was the director from 2000 to 2003. Professor Carlson writes the majority of the book himself but he has suggested that he may bring in one or two contributors this time round to cover areas that he is not as up to date on as he once was. We have spoken about bringing in a co-author and he is open for this to happen for the 7th edition when he has had time to find someone suitable.