Prerequisites:
 
BISC 202, BICH 221 (or BISC 201), and BICH 222 (or equivalent such as BISC 331). (May not be taken for credit in addition to BISC 203).

Required Text:

Developmental Biology, 5th Edition, by Scott F. Gilbert, 1997.  Sinauer Associates, Inc.  ISBN 0-87893-244-5  (Fourth edition is acceptable, but out of date for some topics).  Some copies of the text will be on reserve in the library.

Description of topics:

The course will consider experimental and comparative approaches to understanding the processes and mechanisms of embryonic development of several animals having common and distinctive features including: vertebrates, insects, echinoderms, nematodes, and tunicates.  Topics considered will include: gametes; fertilization; cleavage; differentiation and genomic equivalence; autonomous specification by localized determinants; inductive interactions; axis specification and establishment of the body plan; morphogen gradients; morphogenetic processes; organogenesis; limb formation; evolution and development.

Tutorials:
 
The one tutorial per week is designed to facilitate understanding of lectures and text, especially the experimental methods used.  You must be assigned to a tutorial section, but you can attend which ever is most convenient.  Some reading material will be assigned for tutorials and will be provided.

Evaluation:
 
Evaluation will be based on the performance on two exams, one during the lecture period and one during exam period (Dec. 18); the best exam score will count double.  The exams include short answer questions and essays that require a capacity to interpret experimental data and propose experimental tests of hypotheses.  The final exam will cover the entire course but will emphasize material covered since the previous exam.   In addition, two short reports worth 10% and 20% of the final grade will be required, the first on an assigned topic, and the other on a topic to be selected by the student.  The reports will focus on recent research publications on developmental biology.

Lecture notes:
 
A set of lecture notes based on lecture overheads used previously in this course will be handed out, one copy to each student.  Some of these overheads will change and new handouts will be supplied.

Course fee: $7.40, to cover the cost of duplicating lecture notes and assigned reading.