Development Biology describes development as a sequence of processes and events, in which ‘simple’ structures such as fertilized eggs are progressively transformed into complex organisms.
Objectives of the Study of Development Biology
• Identify a few major researchers in the development of the field of Developmental Biology and outline how our understanding of embryonic development has changed over time.
• Know the characteristics of the major experimental model organisms
• Identify and define the major stages in the development of model organisms
• Demonstrate an understanding of selected molecular techniques used in the field of Developmental Biology
• Demonstrate an understanding of the process of gamete production and fertilization
• Understand the steps involved in cleavage and gastrulation and also identify the types of cell movements involved in gastrulation
• Distinguish between germ layers and list what tissues/organs develop from each germ layer
• Describe mechanisms by which embryonic cells communicate and their role in regulating embryonic development
• Describe the mechanism of gene expression regulation and explain their importance in controlling developmental processes
• Outline the processes involved in generating a nervous system
• Outline the process involved in limb development
• Identify and differentiate between mechanisms used to develop a complex, multicellular organism.
• Outline the differences and similarities between plant and animal development and demonstrate an understanding for the basis for these differences
• Demonstrate an understanding of the process of pollination and fertilization
• Describe the structure of apical meristems and their role in development
• Demonstrate an understanding of the principal mechanisms that regulate leaf, flower and root development
• Explain the significance of hormones in plant development and describe the role of each of the five major hormones in development
• Identify embryonic structures in slide preparations, photographs and diagrams
Animal Development
Introduction to animal developmental biology
What is developmental biology?
Model organisms
Overview and comparison of early development in vertebrates (Xenopus)
Origin and approaches to animal developmental biology
Origins of developmental biology (early theories)
Anatomical approaches
Experimental approaches
Genetic approaches
Germ cells, gametogenesis and fertilization
Specification of germ cells
Oogenesis and spermatogenesis
Fertilization and prevention of polyspermy
Parthenogenesis
Cleavage: mechanisms, patterns and consequences
Cleavage cycle
Patterns and type of cleavage
Formation of the blastula
Morphogenesis
Cell shape, adhesion and movements
Morphogenic processes in gastrulation and neurulation
Molecular basis of gastrulation and neurulation
Axis formation: setting up the body axis
Dorsoventral and anteroposterior axis formation
Establishing left-right asymmetry
Cell specification and determination
Progressive determination of cell fate
Cell-cell communication
Acquisition of commitment
Eye development as an example of induction in development
Germ layer origin and specification
Mesoderm induction
Mesoderm patterning along the dorso-ventral and antero-posterior axes
Ectoderm and endoderm specification (Xenopus)
CRISPR and human genome editing
Antero-posterior patterning and somites; Neural tube induction
Somite specification and formation
Role of Hox genes in A-P patterning
Neural tube induction
Neural crest cells; cell differentiation
Neural crest cells origin, migration and patterning
Differential gene expression
Models of cell differentiation
Plasticity of gene expression
Neural tube patterning/organizing the developing nervous system
Limb development
Limb bud induction and formation
Development along the proximal-distal axis
Development in the dorsal ventral-axis
Digit specification and separation
Plant Development
Embryogenesis, seed development and germination
Stages in embryo development
Seed structure
Endosperm development
Germination
Introduction to phytohormones
What are phytohormones?
How hormones work –roles in development
Establishing the body plan: apical-basal and radial patterning
Embryo fate map
Specification of cell fate along the apical-basal axis
Hormones in apical-basal patterning
Radial pattern formation
Meristems
Types of meristems
Shoot apical meristems organization and maintenance
Root apical meristem, structure, specification and maintenance
Hormonal regulation of apical meristem activity
Development of lateral organs
Auxillary meristems and shoot branching
Positioning of lateral organs on the shoot apical meristem
Initiation and development of lateral roots
Axis formation in leaves
Leaf morphology
Initiation of leaf development
Genetic control of leaf identity and complexity
Establishing leaf polarity and patterning
Patterning the epidermis (stomata, trichome and root hair)
Stomata structure and function
Guard cell fate specification and patterning
Trichome structure and function
Trichome fate specification and patterning
Root hair structure and function
Root hair fate specification and patterning
Gametophyte development and fertilization
Alternation of generations – haploid phase
Pollen grain structure and development
Ovule and embryo sac structure and development
Cell fate specification in the embryo sac
Flower development
Floral meristems
How to make a flower
Establishing floral meristem identity and determinacy
Determining floral organ identity: The ABC model
