Developmental Biology

Course manual 2021/2022

Course content

Students attending this course originate from a wide variety of universities and BSc tracks, many of which offer little or no background in (molecular) developmental biology. Yet, this is a master course, that should prepare students for internships in a research setting. With this in mind the course is split in two distinct parts

The first half of the course consists of lectures on general developmental biology to teach essential big concepts in the developmental biology of animals (invertebrates and vertebrates) and plants, such as:

1. General concepts in development, such as pattern formation, segmentation, determination of cell fate, with emphasis on the experimental methods on which our current knowledge is based
2. Research strategies that are widely used in developmental biology.
3. Basic stem cell biology and "reprogramming" of differentiated cells into stems cells
4. Molecular mechanisms that govern the development of embryos in insects (Drosophila) and vertebrates
5. Evolutionary aspects: How were molecular mechanism  governing development modified during evolution to create the flabbergasting anatomical variation that we see today
6. Plant Developement and evolution

During this lectures we'll play significant attention to the experimental approaches and evidence on which our current knowledge rests. 

This first part of the course will be terminated with a written mid-tem exam

In the second part of the course the focus shifts completely  to hot topics and ongoing research in developmental biology.  Four-five masterclasses will be given by invited speakers/researchers that will give an overview of their own research field and discuss their (recent) experimental results.

Furthermore, students (couples) will choose 2-3 recent research papers on a hot topic of their interest that they will study in depth to prepare for a small masterclass at the end of week 4 in which they outline the current status of the chosen subject, and present (and critically evaluate) the latest experimental data. Students can freely choose papers on plant or animal development. This ensures that everyone can follow his/her own preference for animal or plant biology and that, in the end, everyone gets a broad view on what is is currently going on in (plant or animal) developmental biology. 

Objectives

• The student can describe morphological events during embryogenesis in animals.
• The student can describe and distinguish key-concepts in development, such as (i) pattern formation (ii) determination of cell fate, (ii) differentiation and link that to general phenomena known in molecular biology, such as gene regulation, epigenetic phenomena, cell-signaling etc.
• The student can describe the (dis)similarities in the development of animals as different as fruitflies and vertebrates, in terms of morphological events and underlying molecular mechanisms.
• The student can explain how development of divergents organisms is governed by deeply conserved genes, and understands the molecular evidence for the current ideas.
• The student acquires experience in the critical analysis and discussion of experimental data as presented in research papers and the presentation of such data for a large(r) audience.

Teaching methods

• Lecture
• Presentation/symposium
• Self-study
• Seminar
• Working independently on e.g. a project or thesis

Learning activities

Attendance

Requirements of the programme concerning attendance (OER-B):

1. Attendance during practical components exercises is mandatory.

Additional requirements for this course:

Attendance at Masterclasses is mandatory. In case a scheduled Masterclass overlaps with obligations in a paralel course, please contact the coordinator

Assessment

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

Timetable

The schedule for this course is published on DataNose.

Contact information

Coordinator

• prof. dr. Ronald Koes