This class will be an exciting glimpse into what happens in an embryo as it progresses from a fertilized egg to an embryo to an adult. The egg is a special cell that can read out a genome into a living, breathing, reproducing multicellular organism. We will have lectures and discussions that are complementary to what is known about the genetic basis of development and how this information is daily impacting your own lives. We will focus on how the science of developmental biology is done, rather than entirely on the facts that we know at this time.

Grades will be given on the basis of 300 total points, as tallied below.      
Exam 1             100 points
Exam 2             100 points
Quizzes, etc.      30 points (Assigned in lecture or discussion)
Discussion       70 points                        

Both exams will be one hour long and will be scheduled during the lecture period. Scores will be curved slightly for the exams – the top grade in the class will be considered as 100%.

You will read some papers from the original literature to discuss in discussion sections. You will be expected to answer questions about the papers in groups in class and write two papers on original research articles.

Syllabus 2005.pdf
Discussion Section Syllabus 2005
First Reading - Eyes in Flies
Second Reading - Wnts in Cnidarians
Third Reading - Sex Determination
Fourth Reading - BMP 4 in Darwin's Finches
Fourth Reading - Chick and Duck Beaks
Fifth Reading - Micro RNAs in Plant Development
Sixth Reading - TGFß Signalling and Human Embryonic Stem Cells

First Article for Graded Paper
Due February 14


Articles for Second Graded Paper - Choose Your Favorite One!
Lymphangiogenesis and Cancer
Cranial Neural Crest Cell Migration
Petunia Flowers
Due March 7 at 9:30AM in Lecture

Wed. - February 2 - 7:00PM HCK
Wed. - March 9 - 7:00PM HCK