DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr N Vargesson and Dr M Collinson

Pre-requisites

BI 20M1, BI 20B2, BI 25B2 (the latter BSc Biomedical Sciences students only)

Co-requisites

BT 3007

Overview

The course will cover Questions of Developmental Biology, The Life Cycle: Stages of Development, Cell-to-Cell Signalling in Development, The Concept of Morphogens in Development, The Major Model Organisms (Arabidopsis, Dictyostelium, Drosophilia, C.elegans, zebrafish, Xenopus, chick, mouse), Anatomical Foundation of Embryology, the Physiological Principles underlying Embryonic Development and the Contribution of Genetics to the Understanding of the Molecular Processes Regulating Embryonic Development.

Structure

5 one-hour lectures per week and 1 one-hour tutorial per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1½ hour written examination (70%); continuous assessment (30%).

Resit: Resit opportunity available: 1½ hour written examination (100%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr J Pettitt

Pre-requisites

DB 3003, BT 3007

Co-requisites

DB 3801, DB 3802

Overview

Principles of genetic analysis; focussing on C. elegans as an exemplar system for applying genetics to the understanding of developmental events. The genetics of Drosophila applied to the understanding of embryonic development. The genetic control of vertebrate embryonic development.

Structure

3 one-hour lectures per week and one full day practical every other week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1½ hours written examination (70%); continuous assessment (30%).

Resit: 1½ hours written examination.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Prof P Fowler

Pre-requisites

BI 20Z1 or BI 20B2 or BI 20M1 or BI 25M1 or BI 25B2

Overview

The gonads, sexual differentiation, ovarian and testicular function and their control, central control of reproduction, reproductive rhythms, puberty, oestrous/menstrual cycles, fertilisation, implantation, placentation, embryo/fetal development biology, pregnancy, fertility, manipulation of reproduction, induction and inhibition of fertility.

Structure

Thread I: 6 week course - 22 hours lectures, 3 hours tutorials, 4 hours 6 hours laboratories per course.

Slots A & E weeks 30-35.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour examination (70%); essay (25%) and in-course MCQ (5%).

Resit: A resit exam, in the same format as the main exam.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr S Hoppler and Dr J Pettitt

Pre-requisites

DB 3003, BT 3007

Co-requisites

DB 3502; DB 3804

Overview

This course will cover the following topics. Fertilisation: the Making of a New Organism, Drosophila: The Making of a Fly (Nüsslein-Volhard/Weischaus screen and beyond), C. elegans: The Making of the Worm, Breaking the Symmetry: Axis Formation in Amphibians and other Vertebrates, Morphogenetic Movements and Cell Migration.

Structure

3 one-hour lectures per week and one full day practical every other week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1½ hour written examination (70%); continuous assessment (30%).

Resit: Resit opportunity available: 1½ hour written examination (100%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr J M Collinson, Dr A MacKenzie and Dr S Hoppler

Pre-requisites

DB 3003, BT 3007

Co-requisites

DB 3501; DB 3803

Overview

The course covers later stages of invertebrate development: Imaginal Discs in Drosophila. Vulva development in C. elegans.
Vertebrate organogenesis: The induction in the Ectoderm of Neural tissue, Neural Crest tissue and Epidermis, The Voyages of the Vertebrate Neural Crest, Skin Development, Muscle Development, Bone Development, Kidney Development, The Development of the Heart, Blood vessels and Blood, Development of the Digestive Tract and its Derivatives, Lung Development, The Development of the Limb and The Saga of the Germline.

Structure

3 one-hour lectures per week and one full day practical every other week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1½ hour written examination (70%); continuous assessment (30%).

Resit: Resit opportunity available: 1½ hour written examination (100%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr D Shewan and Dr S Shen

Pre-requisites

DB 3001, BT 3007, DB 3801, DB 3501, DB 3502, DB 3802

Co-requisites

DB 4002, PY 4302, DB 4301

Overview

This course will cover the issue of proliferation, differentiation and death in the life of cells in multicellular organisms; the major stem cell populations in our bodies and the dilemma and connection between stem cells and cancer. Recent research papers on issues such as Human Embryonic Stem Cells will be discussed.

Structure

2 one-hour lectures per week and 1 one-hour tutorial every other week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 2 hour written examination (70%); continuous assessment (30%).

Resit: 2 hour examination.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr S Hoppler and Dr J Pettitt

Pre-requisites

DB 3001, BT 3007, DB 3801, DB 3502, DB 3501, DB 3802

Co-requisites

DB 4001, DB 4301, PY 4302

Overview

This course will cover developmental mechanisms in evolutionary change and the importance of evolutionary change on developmental mechanisms. The historical concept of Body Plan will be compared with the modern equivalent concept of Phylotpic Stage of Development.

Structure

2 one-hour lectures per week and 1 one-hour tutorial every other week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 2 hour written examination (70%); continuous assessment (30%).

Resit: 2 hour Examination.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr M Collinson

Pre-requisites

DB 3001, BT 3007, DB 3801, DB 3501, DB 3502, DB 3802

Co-requisites

DB 4001, DB 4002, PY 4302

Overview

This course covers the role and regulation of gene expression, including post-transcriptional regulation and developmental and cell biology. One essay covering a topic relevant to the separate areas covered by the degree programmes will be written and examined.

Structure

3 one-hour lectures per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 2 hour written examination (70%); continuous assessment (30%).

Resit: 2 hour examination.

Credit Points

60

Course Coordinator

Dr S Hoppler and Dr J Pettitt

Pre-requisites

DB 4001, DB 4002, DB 4301, PY 4302

Overview

The core element of the course is a research project that involves 9 weeks laboratory work, starting one week prior to the beginning of Semester 2, and production of a thesis. Assessment is on the basis of the performance in the laboratory, the thesis, and the project seminar. Students are expected to spend a minimum of 25 hours in the laboratory each week. Two research tutorials will be organised by academic staff and will be assessed by examination at the end of the Semester. Tutorials will be held at regular intervals with the tutor appointed by the Head of School.

Structure

2 four-hour research tutorials and 2 one-and-a-half-hour seminars plus 9 weeks project work at 25 hours per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hours, 1 three-hours and 1 four-hours examination at end Semester 2 (70%); in-course assessment (30%).

Resit: 1 two-hour, 1 three-hour and 1 four-hour examinations.