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BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 333

Developmental Biology

Summer 2007

Instructor: Kathleen Fitzpatrick	Office: B9233
Email:  kathleef@sfu.ca	Phone: 778-782-5611

Course prerequisites: BISC202 and MBB 222 with a grade of C- or better

Course description: This is an introductory course, with lecture and tutorials. The tutorials are optional but strongly recommended. Tutorials will cover “study questions” set for each chapter and are an opportunity to get your questions answered.

Outline of Topics: We will cover the material in the text, mostly in order. We will begin with some general concepts and ideas and then see how they apply to a variety of model organisms beginning with early development in invertebrates (Drosophila melanogaster) and then vertebrates (Xenopus, chick, frog). We will then cover some selected invertebrate systems with “special” developmental processes, and finally plant development. The focus will be on comparing and contrasting the various systems. The second half of the course will cover basic processes of later development, morphogenesis, organogenesis, with special emphasis on nervous system development. We will finish off with late developmental processes, including gametogenesis, metamorphosis and regeneration and if time permits, aging and senescence.

Textbook(s): Required: Wolpert, Principles of Development 3^rd edition (Oxford University Press).

Mark distribution: Marks will be based on 3 exams, two midterms each worth 30% and one final worth 40%. The exams are not cumulative, but it will be very difficult to do well on a later exam without a good understanding of the earlier material.