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Semester 2

Developmental Biology 3 (BILG09010)

Subject

Biology

College

SCE

Credits

20

Normal Year Taken

3

Delivery Session Year

2023/2024

Pre-requisites

Equivalent of the courses listed above

Course Summary

This course studies development of the complex organism from the fertilised egg, leading from the control of gene expression, to cell interaction, to the formation of tissues and organs. It considers the development of many types of animal and plant embryos and also post-embryonic process (control of growth, tissue maintenance, flowering, etc). Major sections of the course include pattern formation (cell lineage, cell interaction); control of gene expression; genetic analysis in zebrafish and in Drosophila (the oocyte, the embryo and imaginal discs); mammalian development; plant development. The course consists of lectures, laboratory practicals, small-group seminars and data-analysis sessions.

Course Description

The study of development is central to modern biology. It is revealing how multi-cellular organisms form the correct cells, tissues and organs in the right place at the right time, to generate a complex and functional organism. Combining manipulative, genetic and molecular approaches, Developmental Biology allows us to understand the path from genes to organism. Analysis in different species has shown that a surprisingly similar 'toolkit' of developmental mechanisms is used in vertebrate and invertebrate animals and in plants (albeit often using different gene products as the 'tools'). The Developmental Biology 3 course aims to give a broad view of the processes and mechanisms of development in a range of important research organisms. An understanding of development is not only crucial to appreciating how the whole, functional organism is formed, but also to understanding what happens when things go wrong, as in congenital abnormalities or in cancer. We encourage you to go on to Development, Regeneration and Stem Cell Honours in your final year. The Honours programme builds on this 3rd year course, going in more detail into experiments on developmental mechanisms - at levels from embryology and morphogenesis to the molecular control of gene expression, and in many different organisms. We also cover important additional topics such as stem cell biology, human developmental genetics, developmental neurobiology and the evolution of development (what is shared and what is unique to different organisms, from humans to plants). Developmental Biology is truly interdisciplinary, with input from the Science and Medical areas - it is an exciting and intriguing topic and the research career prospects are good.

Assessment Information

Written Exam 55%, Coursework 45%, Practical Exam 0%

Additional Assessment Information

An essay and three mini-tests based on the practicals, plus one 2.5 hour exam.

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