DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr N Vargesson

Pre-requisites

BI 20M3

Overview

Fertlisation, development of the fertilised egg into an embryo (including gastrulation, neurulation, cavitation), common mechanisms of development shared between vertebrates, discussion of each of the main model organisms used to study developmental biology, why is developmental biology important to society.
The course is designed to provide the principles to allow students to understand later concepts in the Developmental Biology and Human Embryology degree programmes. But also give a basic introduction to the field for non-specialists.

Structure

3 one hour lectures per week and 4 three hour practical classes.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 one-and-a-half hour essay examination (70%) and in-course assessment (30%).
Continuous assessment comprises: 1 problem solving exercise, 1 web based assignment.

Resit: 1 one-and-a-half hour essay examination (70%) and previous continuous assessment (30%).

Formative Assessment

- Problem-solving sessions.

Feedback

- Feedback on problem-based learning exercise.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr J Pettitt

Pre-requisites

DB 3005

Overview

The principles of genetic analysis; genome-enabled genetics; developmental genetics.

Structure

3 one hour lectures per week; 2 two hour tutorials and 1 nine hour practical.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 one and a half hour essay examination (70%) and in-course assessment (30%).
Continuous assessment comprises: 1 laboratory report, 1 problem solving exercise.

Resit: 1 one and a half hour essay examination (70%) and previous continuous assessment (30%).

Formative Assessment

- PRS-based revision sessions allow students to practice for MCQ tests and receive feedback on their performance.
- Practice exam questions on MyAberdeen.
- Problem-solving sessions.

Feedback

- Practical report will be marked with written comments.
- Problem solving questions will be discussed during a lecture/feedback session.
- Tutorial sessions will provide feedback on course content.
- Students are given general feedback on performance during PRS revision sessions.
- Students receive on-line feedback on completion of the MCQ tests and quizzes.
- PRS MCQ assessment answers discussed at the end of assessment session. Immediate feedback on practice questions available on MyAberdeen.
- Feedback on problem-based learning exercise.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Professor P A Fowler

Pre-requisites

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, environmental effects on reproduction.

Structure

21 hours of lectures over the course. 2 two hour practicals and 3 one hour tutorials over the course.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 one and a half hour essay examination (70%) and in-course assessment (30%).
Continuous assessment comprises: 1 essay (1000 words), 1 closed book quiz.

Resit: 1 one and a half hour essay examination (70%) and previous continuous assessment (30%).

Formative Assessment

Performance in the closed book quiz is fed back to the students on the last day of the course.

Feedback

Essays will be marked with written comments.
Performance in the closed book quiz is fed back to the students on the last day of the course.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Professor S Hoppler

Pre-requisites

DB 3005

Co-requisites

DB 3804

Overview

This course covers the following topics. Fertilisation: the making of a new organism, Drosophila: The Making of a Fly (Nisslein-Vollhard/Wieschaus 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 4 all day (eight hour) practicals over two consecutive weeks. 2 one hour tutorials and 17 hours of timetabled data analysis and lab report writing.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 one and a half hour essay examination (70%) and in-course assessment (30%).
Continuous assessment comprises: 1 manuscript as if for publication based on practical and essay (introduction and discussion).

Resit: 1 one and a half hour essay examination (70%) and previous continuous assessment (30%).

Formative Assessment

- Case-study exercise with feedback in preparation for summative assessments.
- Practice exam questions on MyAberdeen.
- Problem-solving sessions.

Feedback

- Practical reports and essays (i.e. manuscript as if for publication) will be marked with written comments.
- Problem solving questions will be discussed during practical.
- Tutorial sessions will provide feedback on course content.
- Feedback on problem-based learning exercise during practical.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr J M Collinson

Pre-requisites

DB 3005

Co-requisites

DB 3803

Overview

Vertebrate organogenesis: The induction in the Ectoderm of Neural tissue, Neural Crest tissue and Epidermis, 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.
Invertebrate Organogenesis: Imaginal Discs in Drosophila. Vulva development in C. elegans.

Structure

3 one hour lectures per week and 4 full day (6 hour) practical classes.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 one and a half hour essay examination (70%) and in-course assessment (30%).
Continuous assessment comprises: 1 laboratory report and 1 extended essay.
Resit: 1 one and a half hour essay examination (70%) and previous continuous assessment (30%).

Formative Assessment

- Practice exam essay allows students to write under exam conditions and receive feedback on their performance.
- Case-study exercise with feedback in preparation for summative assessments.
- Problem-solving sessions.

Feedback

- Practical reports and essays will be marked with written comments.
- Problem solving questions will be discussed during a lecture/feedback session.
- Tutorial sessions will provide feedback on course content.
- Feedback on problem-based learning exercise.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr J Pettitt

Pre-requisites

DB 3003, DB 3803, DB 3501, DB 3804

Overview

All living organisms are the products of the selective pressures that shaped the form and function of their ancestors. Evolutionary biology traces the changes that have occurred to give rise to the diversity of modern organisms. Developmental biology provides information about how tissues, organs and ultimately organisms arise from the single, fertilised egg. We can now understand how changes at the genetic level can lead to changes in cell fate and morphogenesis that allow existing structures to change and adopt new configurations. This course will show how combining the two approaches of evolutionary and developmental biology allows an understanding of the mechanisms by which organisms evolve, which cannot be achieved by either discipline alone.

Structure

12 one hour lectures over the course and three two hour workshops.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour essay examination (70%) and in-course assessment (30%).

Continuous assessment comprises: 2 laboratory reports, 1 problem solving exercise, 1 essay (2000 words).

Formative Assessment

Problem-solving sessions to give students practice in dealing with the interpretation of phylogeny data.

Feedback

Problem solving questions will be discussed during a tutorial session.
Feedback on problem-based learning exercise.

Credit Points

60

Course Coordinator

Dr D Shewan

Pre-requisites

DB 3803, DB 3804

Co-requisites

DB 4002

Overview

A 10-week research project is undertaken alone or in pairs in which the student learns laboratory or literature research techniques. Each student is assigned to a research team usually on the Foresterhill site, but occasionally projects may be offered by teams associated outwith the University, for example at the Rowett Research Institute or Robert Gordon's University. Each student independently submits the outcome of the project as a thesis. An oral account of the project is presented to SMS staff and fellow students. Students gain extensive experience of literature research procedures, data acquisition and data manipulation. Students are assessed on both their performance throughout the whole project and the quality of the written thesis.

Structure

For literature-based projects, minimum of 2hr tutorial each week for 10 weeks plus all day (9am-5pm) Powerpoint presentations session.

For laboratory-based projects,maximum 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday, for 10 weeks plus Powerpoint presentations session.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Continuous assessment of day-to-day performance throughout project duration (25%), supervisor assessment of project report of up to 5000 words (25%) and independent second marker's assessment of project report (50%).

Resit: Continuous assessment of day-to-day performance throughout project duration (25%), supervisor assessment of project report of up to 5000 words (25%) and independent second marker's assessment of project report (50%).

Formative Assessment

Practice oral presentation of research data.
Practice scientific writing.

Feedback

Tutorial sessions provide feedback on research and/or practical/technical abilities.
Feedback on draft thesis provides tuition in scientific writing.