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BIOL 3542 Developmental Biology (Fall semesters)

Fall, Tuesday/Thursday, 1 – 2:15 pm

Pre-requisites:

  • BIOL2500 (Genetics I) AND
  • BIOL2520 (Cell Biology)
  • Grade C or better for both courses

Evaluation:

  • 11 Pre-reading Quizzes
  • In-class Quizzes
  • 5 Assignments
  • Midterm exam
  • Final exam

Course topics

Lecture 1

Course outline and introduction

Lecture 2

Model organisms and experimental approaches

Lecture 3

Commitment to specific cell identity

Lecture 4

Basics of gene expression

Lecture 5

Differential gene expression

Lecture 6

Cell-to-cell communication

Lecture 7

Cell signaling and signal transduction

Lecture 8

Stem cells

Lecture 9

Sex determination

Lecture 10

Gametogenesis

Lecture 11

Fertilization part I

Lecture 12

Fertilization part II

Lecture 13

Early development in Drosophila

Lecture 14

Genetics of axis specification in Drosophila

Lecture 15

Early development in Amphibians

Lecture 16

Mammalian gastrulation and axis formation

Lecture 17

Developmental disorders

Lecture 18

Neural tube formation and patterning

Lecture 19

Neural crest cells and axonal specificity

Lecture 20

Limb development

Lecture 21

Regeneration

Lecture 22

Environmental influence on development

Lecture 23

Evolutionary developmental biology

Lecture X

Guest lecture

BIOL 4570 Developmental Neuroscience (Winter semesters)

Winter, Tuesday/Thursday, 1 – 2:15 pm

Pre-requisites:

  • BIOL 3542 (Developmental Biology)
  • Grade B or better

Evaluation:

  • In-class Quizzes, Games and Tests
  • Midterm Exam
  • Group Presentations and Discussions
  • Workshop Report or Review Article

Course topics

Lecture 1

Introduction to Developmental Neuroscience

Lecture 2

Neural Induction and Patterning

Lecture 3

Neuroepithelial cells

Lecture 4

Radial Glial Cells

Lecture 5

Intermediate progenitor and neurogenesis

Lecture 6

Neuron Migration

Lecture 7

Neurite Outgrowth and Axon Guidance

Lecture 8

Synapse Formation and Neural Networks

Lecture 9

Brain Evolution and What Made Us Human

Lecture 10

Guest lecture

Lecture 11-23

Journal Club Presentations

Lecture 24-25

Image Analysis Workshop