Course: Developmental Biology

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Course title Developmental Biology
Course code LRR/VBI
Organizational form of instruction Lecture
Level of course Bachelor
Year of study not specified
Semester Summer
Number of ECTS credits 2
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course Compulsory
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Hudzieczek Vojtěch, Dr.
  • Vyskot Boris, prof. RNDr. DrSc.
Course content
Developmental biology (and genetics) is presented as a global survey of principles of developmental processes. It is also presented as comparative science in order to demonstrate common features of developmental processes in phylogenetically distant groups of organisms. We will focus on genetic and epigenetic fundamentals of developmental processes on molecular level. The topic is divided into ten chapters and students receive their adequate e-presentations: (1) General principles of developmental genetics, history, embryonic induction (Spemann), models of flags (Wolpert), reaction-diffuse model of development (Turing), regulative and mosaic development, homeosis (Bateson, Goethe), programmed cell death, preformism and epigenesis (Aristotle), germ-line (Weismann), genes with maternal effects, morphalaxis and epimorphosis (2) Developmental processes in bacteria (Bacillus subtilis), fungi (yeast, Dictyostellium) and primitive animal models (Paramecium, Hydra, Caenorhabditis) (3) Flatworms - rediscovered model of developmental biology: regeneration, neurobiology, allometry, RNA-interference (4) Drosophila melanogaster - the queen of developmental genetics: genetic control cascade of embryogenesis, maternal and zygotic genes, homeotic genes, colinearity, imaginal discs, homeotic transdetermination (5) Deuterostomia as important models for developmental studies: sea urchin, fish, amphibians, birds, mammals (6) Medical aspects of developmental biology: therapy of infertility, malformations, teratogenesis, candidate genes, position cloning, stem cells, DNA therapy (7) Alternative models of plant developmental genetics: Anabaena, Acetabularia, Chlamydomonas, Volvox, Fucus, Marchantia, Physcomitrella, Ceratopteris, Populus, Antirrhinum, Linaria, Linum, Craterostigma, Zinnia, Silene, Zea, Oryza, Brachypodium, Gagea, Eleocharis, orchids (8) Arabidopsis thaliana model: gametophye and sporophyte, imprinting in endosperm, control of embryogenesis, regulative development, control of flowering, MADS-box genes, homeobox genes, Polycomb proteins (Medea) (9) Sex and its determination, genetically, hormone and epigenetically controlled sexuality, structure and evolution of sex chromosomes, gynandromorphy, dioecy, X- and Y-linked inheritance, molecular mechanisms of sex determination (10) Evolutionary and developmental processes (or evo/devo): heterotopic changes, heterochronic changes, environmental adaptation

Learning activities and teaching methods
Lecture
  • Homework for Teaching - 2 hours per semester
  • Preparation for the Exam - 15 hours per semester
Learning outcomes
Developmental biology (and genetics) is presented as a global survey of principles of developmental processes.
Student should be able to (after attending the course): - Define main evolutionary trends in living organisms on Earth.
Prerequisites
unspecified

Assessment methods and criteria
Mark

80% knowledge of the topics
Recommended literature
  • GILBERT, S. (2010). DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY.. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland.
  • Gilbert, S.F. (2006). Developmental Biology. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland.
  • Kalthoff, K. (1996). Analysis of Biological Development. McGrwa-Hill, New York.
  • Markoš, A. (1997). Povstávání živého tvaru. Vesmír, Praha.
  • Rádl, E. (2006). Dějiny biologických teorií novověku. Academia, Praha.
  • Slack, J.M.W. (2006). Essential Developmental Biology. Blackwell Science, Oxford.
  • Slack, J.M.W. (2001). O vejcích a vědcích. Paseka, Praha.
  • SNUSTAD, D.P., SIMMONS, M.J. (2009). GENETIKA. Masarykova univerzita, Brno.
  • Twyman, R.M. (2001). Developmental Biology. Bios, Oxford.
  • Vyskot, B. (1998). Genetická podmíněnost fyziologických procesů. In: Fyziologie rostlin, Procházka, S. a kol. , Academia, Praha, str. 432-458.
  • Vyskot, B. (1999). Přehled vývojové biologie a genetiky. Ústav molekulární genetiky AV ČR, Praha.
  • Westhoff, P., Jeske, H., Jurgens, G., Kloppstech, K., Link, G. (1998). Molecular Plant Development. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
  • Wolffe, A. (1998). Chromatin: Structure and Function. Academic Press, San Diego.
  • Wolpert, L. (1995). Triumf embrya. Akademia, Praha.
  • Wolpert, L.,Beddington, R., Brockes, J., Jessell, T., Lawrence, P., Meyerowitz, E. (1998). Principles of Development. Current Biology, London.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
Faculty: Faculty of Science Study plan (Version): Experimental Biology - Specialization in Experimental Biology of Plants (2021) Category: Biology courses 3 Recommended year of study:3, Recommended semester: Summer
Faculty: Faculty of Science Study plan (Version): Experimental Biology - Specialization in Experimental Biology (2021) Category: Biology courses 3 Recommended year of study:3, Recommended semester: Summer