Since the pacemaking and conduction system or PCS is vital for generating and synchronizing the heart beat, its dysfunction can be a direct cause of cardiac conduction disturbance, arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. A wealth of information has been collected over many years on the unique histological, morphological and phenotypic characteristics of specialized cardiac tissues and the cellular and molecular mechanics governing development of PCS tissues are now starting to be understood. This title draws together contributions from an international and interdisciplinary group of experts whose work is focused on both basic and clinical aspects of the topic. Coverage includes reviews of the structure and function of the developing PCS, discussion of the molecular and cellular mechanisms regulating embryological development of PCS, studies on the molecular and cellular bases of PCS pathology, and reflections on how the identification of novel therapeutic interventions based on fundamental discoveries on the developmental biology of cardiac pacemaking and conduction tissues might ultimately impact on clinical medicine.