Course Title: Developmental Biology

Name of Lecturer: Despina Alexandraki

Course Code: BIOL-350 Type of course: Core Level of course:

Year of study: 3 Semester/trimester: F Number of credits: 5

Objectives of the course (preferably expressed in terms of learning

outcomes and competences): Learning the basic principles and questions of

current Developmental Biology based on several model systems

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites Course contents: Introduction to fundamental principles and questions of

development and to model experimental systems, invertebrates and vertebrates

(sea urchin, nematode, fruit fly, frog, fish, chicken, mouse). Germline formation

and gametogenesis (spermatogenesis, oogenesis). Cytoplasmic localisation of

morphogenetic factors-cellular polarity, cellular interactions, hormonal regulation,

meiosis controlling factors. Mechanisms of fertilisation. Mosaic and regulative

embryos, cellular determination and differentiation, morphogens. Types of

cleavage, blastula formation, gastrulation, morphogenesis (invertebrates and

vertebrates). Neurulation of vertebrates, primary and secondary induction.

Molecular patterning of the Drosophila body plan: developmental mutants,

morphogenetic fields, axis formation, segmentation, homeotic genes. Molecular

patterning of the vertebrate body plan: mesodermal induction and patterning,

organising signalling centers, induction and patterning of the neural tube and

neural crest cells. Hox code and morphogens in vertebrate somitogenesis,

rhombomere formation and limb development. Left-right asymmetry of

vertebrate internal organs. Evolution of patterning molecules. Cell lineages,

heterochronic mutations, mechanisms of cellular communication in

Caenorhabditis elegans.

Recommended reading: Developmental Biology, Scott. F. Gilbert , 2006,

Principles of Development, L. Wolpert, 2001, Essential Developmental Biology, J.

Slack 2006,

Provided: Lectures in Powerpoint and texts from the internet. CDs, Videos.

Teaching methods: Lectures 4h/week

Assessment methods: Written examination

Language of instruction: Greek