Developmental Genetics

Teaching semester

Autumn. The course runs only if enough students enrol.

The registration deadline for enrollment in the course is Thursday in week 2 for the spring semester/Thursday in week 33 for the autumn semester. You will receive confirmation of whether you received a spot in Studentweb no later than Tuesday the week after the deadline.

The first lecture/orientation meeting is compulsory, which means you will lose your spot if you do not attend class that day. The time of the first lecture/orientation meeting can be found in the schedule on the course website or on the ¿Mitt UiB¿ learning platform.

Objectives and Content

Objectives:

The course aims to give fundamental understanding of the processes that control embryonic development.

Content:

The course gives an introduction to basic concepts and general principles in developmental biology, which also includes evolutionary relations. Moreover, the main features of the embryonic development of important animal models (e.g. mouse, frog, fruit flies) will be described to provide a basis for explaining the underlying control mechanisms. The course also introduces genetic and experimental methods that are being used to investigate these mechanisms. Special attention will be paid to explaining the regulation of the early steps of embryonic development. In addition, the course will give an introduction to the genetic control mechanisms that govern development of the skeleton and the central nervous system. It will also be explained how mutations in such developmental genes can cause malformations.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of the course the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

• can explain basic concepts, principles and methods in developmental biology.
• can describe the main features of embryonic development of important animal models.
• can explain mechanisms that specify body axes and germ layers.
• can describe how genetic control mechanisms determine the skeletal pattern along the body axis.
• can explain how mutations in developmental genes can cause malformations.

Skills

The student

• is able to use basic concepts and principles in developmental biology.
• is able to analyze and interpret simple data from experimental embryology and developmental genetics.

General competence

The student

• can communicate basic knowledge in developmental biology.

Required Previous Knowledge

Basic knowledge of molecular biology (equivalent to MOL100).

Recommended Previous Knowledge

Basic knowledge of molecular biology (equivalent to MOL200, MOL221 and MOL222), cell biology (equivalent to MOL201) and genetics (equivalent to MOL203).

Compulsory Assignments and Attendance

 The first lecture/orientation meeting is compulsory.

Forms of Assessment

Written exam (4 hours)

Examination support materials: Non

Grading Scale

The grading scale used is A to F. Grade A is the highest passing grade in the grading scale, grade F is a fail.