BI 117: DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
Class Website:
Professor: Professor Marianne Bronner and Staff, e-mail,
Class Hours: 1:00 – 2:20 p.m., Broad 100 (Rock Auditorium) Tuesdays and Thursdays
Recitation Sections: Tuesdays 7-8pm, Broad 100.
Note: Recitation sections cover important materials including much that will be tested. They also provide information about exams and assignments. Attendance is strongly advised and the intelligent course of action.
Teaching Assistants:
Riley Galton ()Jenny Hsin ()
Shashank Gandhi ()
TA’s will hold office hours the weeks they are in charge of the weekly assignment.
Grading: 30% Weekly Papers/Problem Sets. 30% Midterm. 40% Final.
Required Text: Scott Gilbert "Developmental Biology", 11th edition
Recitations: Tuesdays, 7pm
Schedule of Topics
Lecture 1—Thursday Jan 5, 2017
Overview of Events in Development
Distribute: Paper #1, Guide to Writing Papers, Syllabus
Lecture 2— Tuesday Jan 10, 2017
Fertilization
Reading: Gilbert and Barresi, Chapter 7
Lecture 3—Thursday Jan 12, 2017
Cleavage
Reading: Gilbert and Barresi, parts of Chapter 10, 11, 12
Distribute:Problem Set #1
Due: Paper#1
Lecture 4— Tuesday Jan 17, 2017
gastrulation
Reading: Gilbert and Barresi, parts of Chapter 10, 11, 12
Lecture 5—Thursday Jan 19, 2017
Mesoderm induction
Distribute:Paper #2
Due: Problem set #1
Lecture 6—Tuesday Jan 24, 2017
Neural Induction
Lecture 7—Thursday Jan 26, 2017
Neurulation and Nervous System Formation
Reading: Gilbert and Barresi, Chapter 13
Distribute: Problem Set #2
Due: Paper #2
Lecture 8—Tuesday Jan 31, 2017
Neural Crest
Reading: Gilbert and Barresi, Chapter 15
Lecture 9—Thursday, Feb 2, 2017
Ezgi Kunttas-Tatli--early drosophila patterning
Reading: Gilbert and Barresi, Chapter 9
Due: Problem Set #2
Lecture 10—Tuesday Feb 7, 2017--– In-Class Midterm
Lecture 11—Thursday Feb 9, 2017
Paul Sternberg--Lineage Determination and Inductive interactions in the Nematode
Reading: Gilbert and Barresi, Chapter 8
Lecture 12—Tuesday Feb 14, 2017
Cardiac neural crest and heart development
Reading: Gilbert and Barresi, Chapter 18
Distribute: Paper #3
Lecture 13—Thursday Feb 16, 2017
Hox Genes in Flies and Mammals
Due: Paper #3
Distribute: Problem Set #3
Lecture 14—Tuesday Feb 21, 2017
Mesoderm formation and differentiation
Reading: Gilbert and Barresi, Chapter 17
Lecture 15—Thursday Feb 23, 2017
Limb Patterning
Reading: Gilbert and Barresi, Chapter 19
Distribute: Paper #4
Due: Problem Set #3
Lecture 16—Tuesday Feb 28, 2017
Bone and Cartilage Development
Reading: Gilbert and Barresi, Chapter 19
Lecture 17—Thursday March 2, 2017
Stem cells
Reading: Gilbert and Barresi, Chapter 5
Due: Problem Set #3
Distribute: Problem Set #4
Lecture 18—Tuesday March 7, 2017
Regeneration
Reading: Gilbert and Barresi, Chapter 22
Lecture 19—Thursday March 9, 2017
Development and Evolution
Reading: Gilbert and Barresi, Chapter 26
Due: Problem Set #4
Take Home FINAL EXAM
Pick up March 10 after 3p.m., Due by 11am March 17th
Weekly Requirement—Papers or Problem Sets
Due on most Tuesdays. See schedule above.
1 Page Paper on Scientific Article Pertinent to Lectures of that Week
--Papers assigned by TAs
--Give Synopsis and Critique
--Limit one page (typed)
General format of paper reviews (see paper review guidelines handout for details).
I.Background and rationale of experiments.
II.Interpretation of results.
- Propose the next logical experiment(s) you would do if working in this area.
Collaboration Policy— Study groups prior to exams are acceptable.
Absolutely NO collaboration on papers, problem sets, midterm or final.
Concepts presented in papers and problem sets can be discussed but paper reviews and problem set answers must be derived autonomously and also written independently.
Violation of this policy is a violation of the honor code.
Extension Policy:
Problem sets/papers: ONLY for medical reasons with physician’s note.
Each day late drops grade 10%. 1 week maximum extension.
Midterm/Final: ONLY for medical reasons with physician’s note.
Extra Credit:
Attend a Developmental Biology seminar in the division of biology and write a one page synopsis. Equivalent to one paper review.