Biology 3443 Developmental Biology

Fall term 1998
Robert V. Blystone, Ph.D.
Lecture RCC320 MWF 10:30 am Lab CLS158 R 2:10 pm
Office Hours MWF 9:00 - 10:00 am; M 1:30 - 4:00 pm; F 2:30 - 4:30 pm
CLS 153 phone X7243 email rblyston@trinity.edu

Course Overview:
Embryology began as descriptive comparative anatomy. In the first half of the century the discipline was studied primarily by means of the defect experiment: “Let’s take something out and see how the embryo develops” approach. In the last half of this century biochemical and molecular techniques have altered how many do “embryology.” Because of these new tools the field was renamed Developmental Biology. Often Developmental Biology is taught along with Cell and Molecular Biology. Medical schools still teach descriptive embryology because physicians need to recognize birth defects from an anatomical standpoint. So the discipline has two personalities: descriptive and molecular. The lab portion of the course will be about 2/3’s descriptive and the lecture will be about 1/2 descriptive.

Texts:
There is no required text for this course. Below are useful references.
Carlson, B. 1988. Patten’s Foundations of Embryology, 5th edition. McGraw-Hill.
Gilbert, S. 1997. Developmental Biology, 5th edition. Sinauer.
Other texts include:
Held, L.I. Models for Embryonic Periodicity
Edelman, G.M. Topobiology
Larsen, W.J. Human Embryology
D”Arcy Thompson, On Growth and Form (older but widely read book)
Leon Browder Developmental Biology

Course Conduct:
Attendance is expected. Conduct in lab will be described on a separate handout. The lecture will be developed around a question approach. Recitation on a daily basis will occur.

Assessment:
Two one hour exams (over untested material only)
Oct 05 Monday 10:30 am and Nov. 6 Friday 10:30 am each 15%
One Final Lecture Exam (comprehensive)
Dec 12 Saturday 8:30 am 20%
Two lab exams: one on anatomy and one on experimental technique
Oct 22 Thursday 2:10 pm Dec. 03 Thursday 2:10 pm each 15%
Term Project
Dec. 07 Monday 10:30 am 20%

Course syllabus

week of August 27 Thursday Lab #1 August 28 Friday 8/31 - 09/04 09/03 Lab #2 09/07 - 09/11 09/10 Lab #3 09/14 - 09/18 09/17 Lab #4 09/21 - 09/25 09/24 Lab #5 09/28 - 10/02 10/01 Lab #6 10/05 - 10/09 10/08 Lab #7 10/12 - 10/16 10/15 Lab #8 10/19 - 10/23 10/22 Lab #9 10/26 - 10/30 10/29 Lab #10 11/02 - 11/06 11/05 Lab #11 11/09 - 11/13 11/12 Lab #12 11/16 - 11/20 11/19 Lab #13 11/23 - 11/27 Thanksgiving 11/30 - 12/04 12/03 Lab #14 12/07 Last Class 12/12 Final 8/30 am Saturday

topic Overview of the course Introduction Cell division mitosis Basic Body Plan of Embryos meiosis, gametes, and gonads Musculoskeletal - limb buds Frog development Skin and nerves, neural crest Chick development - whole mounts Circulation and GI Chick development - early Lecture exam on Monday Lungs, Kidneys, and face Chick development - late Reproduction: the indifferent gonad Chick organs Fall Break on Friday Cell Cycle - details Lab Exam Gametes and fertilization, cytoplasmic determination Chick hatch Lecture Exams on Friday Pattern formation Flies - culture Cell - cell interaction and induction Sea Urchins - fertilization Induction, transcription regulation, ECM Open no lab Thursday and no class Friday - chromatin activation Translation regulation Lab Exam - Lab check out Term Project due - Summary and Conclusions

email: Rblyston@trinity.edu

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