Module BIOL3521: Genes & Development

Department: Biological and Biomedical Sciences

BIOL3521: Genes & Development

Prerequisites

• Development AND Molecular Biology

Corequisites

• At least one other Level 3 Biology module.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To provide an advanced theoretical overview of important mechanisms and molecular and cellular controls governing animal and plant development.
• To provide practical laboratory experience in developmental biology.

Content

• Developmental biology of the mammalian epidermis.
• Developmental biology of wound healing.
• Development and disease.
• Role of Hox genes in development.
• Cell biology and molecular genetics of plant development.

Learning Outcomes

• Advanced knowledge of key aspects of animal developmental biology, building on the year 2 course and with further understanding at the cell and molecular level.
• Detailed and critical appreciation of the experimental paradigms and recent research findings associated with important mechanisms and events in development including early embryonic induction; secondary induction and organ formation; the role of homeobox genes in pattern formation.
• Advanced knowledge of aspects of the molecular and cell biology of the structure of the plant cytoskeleton and role in cell shape control; and mechanisms of pattern formation, exemplified by reference to development of the embryo and root of the model genetic organism Arabidopsis.

• Ability to use information from diagrams of experimental strategies, Southern and PCR analysis to identify the nature of genome changes caused by reverse genetics techniques.
• Ability to interpret cell biological and genetic data in the context of understanding developmental mechanisms.

• Accurate recording of data.
• Development of practical skills.
• Interpretation of data.
• Accurate recording of data.
• Development of practical skills.
• Interpretation of data.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Lectures, Workshops, Unseen exam and Data handling.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

None.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University