The course will illustrate important cutting-edge areas of developmental and molecular biology. Lectures and tutorials will be given by scientists who are actively involved in research in these areas. The course will focus on the molecular and cellular basis of animal development. It will explore the nature, expression and function of developmental regulatory genes and the molecular basis of cell signalling and gene regulatory mechanisms that operate during embryogenesis and post-embryonic development.  The course will also examine the molecular basis of key developmental processes such as epithelium formation and cell migration. The nature of stem cells and their potential for therapeutic use will also be discussed. An optional practical component with separate assessment will also be available to a limited number of students.

On satisfying the requirements of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Understand how the genetics of model organisms such as Drosophila and C.elegans can be used to discover and describe the mechanisms of basic biological processes such as the development of a multicellular animal
2. Describe how many of the same genes and gene pathways are present in all organisms and understand that quite different morphologies may be produced by relatively small changes in genes and their regulation
3. Locate and understand material relating to animal development in the primary scientific literature
4. Apply problem-solving and critical analysis skills to relevant published material

Students who take the practical class will be able to:

5. Describe the developmental stages in the Drosophila embryo
6. Use antibodies to reveal patterns of protein expression and understand the way in which a hierarchy of transcription factors acts to produce embryonic segmentation in the Drosophila embryo

Assessment will be based on:

• Assignments and (if applicable) practical reports (total 40%; LO 1-4, practical reports LO 5, 6)
• Final exam (60%; LO 1, 2, 4)

Two lectures per week and 8 tutorials plus 1 or 2 optional practicals. (The practical component is voluntary and has limited spaces available.)

Requires BIOL3161