Developmental Biology

Cell 4160/6160

Fall, 2015

Instructor: Dr. YiPing ChenOffice Rm:4036 Stern Hall

Lecture: T. Th.: 9:30 – 10:45 AMOffice Hour: 11:00AM – 12:00PM, T.TH.

Phone: 247-1593Email:

Textbook: “Developmental Biology” By Scott Gilbert, 10th Edition, Sinauer Associates, Inc

Course description(Undergraduates enrolled in Cell 416/Graduate students enrolled in Cell 616): Vertebrate animal development is discussed in a lecture style, with focus on initiation and construction of anorganism and the underlying molecular and genetic basis.

Course objectives:Students will acquire fundamental knowledge of animal embryonic development--that is how an egg develops into an adult. Students will also learn how genes function to control phenotype of an organism. Graduate students are required to take extra work to meet the requirement, such as discussion and presentation of related-literatures. Students will be prepared for more advanced course in developmental biology such as “Cell 478/678-Developmental Genetics” in CMB or other related courses in graduate/professional schools. For graduate students, the course will also provide them basic developmental biology concepts that are essential for other graduate-level cell and developmental biology courses and for their research in developmental biology field.

Learning outcomes:

  1. Understand and master basic concepts of developmental biology
  2. Understand how fertilization and cleavage occur
  3. Understand the process and consequence of gastrulation
  4. Understand mesoderm induction and neural induction
  5. Understand basic concepts of organogenesis
  6. Understand basic concepts of growth, regeneration and aging
  7. Understand basic concepts of gene expression and regulation

Course Schedule:

DateLecture TopicsReading

8/25Introduction: an overview of animal developmentChapter 1

8/27Basic concepts of embryogenesisChapter 1, Part II

9/1Structures of gene, promoter and enhancer Chapter 2

9/3Transcription factorsChapter 2

9/8Growth factorsChapter 3

9/10Regulation of differential gene expressionChapter 2

9/15GameteChapter 4

9/17FertilizationChapter 4

9/22Review

9/24Exam I

9/29Cleavage and GastrulationChapters 5, 7, 8, 9

10/1Mesoderm induction (I)Chapter 7, 8,

10/6Mesoderm induction (II)Chapter 7,8

10/8No class

10/13NeurulationChapter 10

10/15Fall Break

10/20Neural inductionChapter 8, 10

10/22Neural crest cellsChapter 11

10/27Somite formation and patterningChapter 12

10/29Review

11/3Exam II

11/5Hox geneChapter 9

11/10Vertebrate limb development (I)Chapter 14

11/12Vertebrate limb development (II)Chapter 14

11/17GrowthChapter 16

11/19RegenerationChapter 16

11/24AgingChapter 16

11/26Thanksgiving Break

12/1Review

12/3Final Exam

Honor Code: As a reminder, the Honor Code of Tulane University stipulates that “all academic work must be the result of the student’s own effort.” Any suspected violation of the Honor Code will be referred to the Honor Board to be sanctioned according to the University guidelines.

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