BIOMG 3850 - Developmental Biology

(PBS-AS)

Fall. 3 credits. Letter grades only.

Prerequisite: BIOMG 2800 or permission of instructor.

M. Simoes-Costa.

Introduction to the morphogenetic, molecular and cellular, and genetic aspects of the developmental biology of animals.

Outcome 1: Appreciate the complexity and beauty of development.

Outcome 2: Become familiar with the major animal model systems used in developmental biology, such as Sea urchin, Tunicates, C. elegan, Drosophila, Amphibians, Fish, Chick and Mouse.

Outcome 3: Appreciate the nature of experimental research as the basis for our current understanding in developmental biology.

Outcome 4: Be able to interpret experimental results and draw conclusions from them.

Outcome 5: Become familiar with, and be able to describe in writing:
–General developmental mechanisms, including terms and concepts of developmental biology, such as induction, automonous specification, morphogens, differential adhesion etc.
–The biological information that underlies ethical issues such as stem cells and human cloning.

Outcome 6: Be able to read critically primary literature on a chosen topic through literature enrichment exercises.