Level 3
- DB 3001 - PRINCIPLES OF DEVELOPMENT
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- Credit Points
- 30
- Course Coordinator
- Dr A MacKenzie and Dr J M Collinson
Pre-requisites
Level 2: BI 20M1, BI 20B2, BI 25B2 (the latter BSc Biomedical Sciences students only)
Co-requisites
Core Molecular Technologies for Biologists (BT 3004, 30 credits).
Overview
The course will cover Questions of Developmental Biology, The Life Cycle: Stages of Development, Cell-to-Cell Signalling in Development, The Concept of Morphogens in Development, The Major Model Organisms (Arabidopsis, Dictyostelium, Drosophilia, C.elegans, zebrafish, Xenopus, chick, mouse), Anatomical Foundation of Embryology, the Physiological Principles underlying Embryonic Development and the Contribution of Genetics to the Understanding of the Molecular Processes Regulating Embryonic Development.
Structure
5 one-hour lectures per week and 1 one-hour tutorial per week.
Assessment
1st Attempt: 3 hours written examination (70%); continuous assessment (30%).
Resit: Resit opportunity available: 3 hours written examination.
- DB 3801 - PATTERNING THE EMBRYO
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- Credit Points
- 15
- Course Coordinator
- Dr S Hoppler and Dr J Pettitt
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
GN 3502; DB 3802
Overview
This course will cover the following topics. Fertilisation: the Making of a New Organism, Drosophila: The Making of a Fly (Nüsslein-Volhard/Weischaus screen and beyond), C. elegans: The Making of the Worm, Breaking the Symmetry: Axis Formation in Amphibians and other Vertebrates, Morphogenetic Movements and Cell Migration.
Structure
3 one-hour lectures per week and one full day practical every other week.
Assessment
1st Attempt: 2 hour written examination (70%); continuous assessment (30%).
Resit: Resit opportunity available: 2 hour written examination.
- DB 3802 - DEVELOPMENT OF ORGAN SYSTEMS
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- Credit Points
- 15
- Course Coordinator
- Dr J M Collinson, Dr A MacKenzie and Dr S Hoppler
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
GN 3501; DB 3801
Overview
The course covers later stages of invertebrate development: Imaginal Discs in Drosophila. Vulva development in C. elegans.
Vertebrate organogenesis: The induction in the Ectoderm of Neural tissue, Neural Crest tissue and Epidermis, The Voyages of the Vertebrate Neural Crest, Skin Development, Muscle Development, Bone Development, Kidney Development, The Development of the Heart, Blood vessels and Blood, Development of the Digestive Tract and its Derivatives, Lung Development, The Development of the Limb and The Saga of the Germline.Structure
3 one-hour lectures per week and one full day practical every other week.
Assessment
1st Attempt: 2-hour written examination (70%); continuous assessment (30%).
Resit: Resit opportunity available: 2 hour written examination.
Level 4
- DB 4001 - STEM CELL TECHNOLOGY AND REGENERATION
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- Credit Points
- 15
- Course Coordinator
- Professor K Docherty, Dr D Shewan and Dr S Shen
Pre-requisites
DB 3001, BT 3004, DB 3801, GM 3502, DB 3802
Co-requisites
DB 4002, PY4302, DB 4301
Overview
This course will cover the issue of proliferation, differentiation and death in the life of cells in multicellular organisms; the major stem cell populations in our bodies and the dilemma and connection between stem cells and cancer. Recent research papers on issues such as Human Embryonic Stem Cells will be discussed.
Structure
2 one-hour lectures per week and 1 one-hour tutorial every other week.
Assessment
1st Attempt: 2 hour written examination (70%); continuous assessment (30%).
Resit: 2 hour examination.
- DB 4002 - EVOLUTION AND DEVELOPMENT
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- Credit Points
- 15
- Course Coordinator
- Dr S Hoppler and Dr J Pettitt
Pre-requisites
DB 3001, BT 3004, DB 3801, GN 3502, DB 3802
Co-requisites
DB 4001, DB 4301, PY 4302
Overview
This course will cover developmental mechanisms in evolutionary change and the importance of evolutionary change on developmental mechanisms. The historical concept of Body Plan will be compared with the modern equivalent concept of Phylotpic Stage of Development.
Structure
2 one-hour lectures per week and 1 one-hour tutorial every other week.
Assessment
1st Attempt: 2 hour written examination (70%); continuous assessment (30%).
Resit: 2 hour Examination.
- DB 4301 - CONTROL OF GENE EXPRESSION AND DEVELOPMENT AND FORM
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- Credit Points
- 15
- Course Coordinator
- Professor K Docherty
Pre-requisites
DB 3001, BT 3004, DB 3801, GN 3502, DB 3802
Co-requisites
DB 4001, DB 4002, PY 4302
Overview
This course covers the role and regulation of gene expression, including post-transcriptional regulation and developmental and cell biology. One essay covering a topic relevant to the separate areas covered by the degree programmes will be written and examined.
Structure
5 one-hour lectures per week.
Assessment
1st Attempt: 2 hour written examination (70%); continuous assessment (30%).
Resit: 2 hour examination.
- DB 4501 - DEVELOPMENT BIOLOGY HONOURS PROJECT
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- Credit Points
- 60
- Course Coordinator
- Dr S Hoppler and Dr J Pettitt
Pre-requisites
DB 4001, DB 4002, DB 4301, PY 4302
Overview
The core element of the course is a research project that involves 9 weeks laboratory work, starting one week prior to the beginning of Semester 2, and production of a thesis. Assessment is on the basis of the performance in the laboratory, the thesis, and the project seminar. Students are expected to spend a minimum of 25 hours in the laboratory each week. Two research tutorials will be organised by academic staff and will be assessed by examination at the end of the Semester. Tutorials will be held at regular intervals with the tutor appointed by the Head of School.
Structure
2 four-hour research tutorials and 2 one-and-a-half-hour seminars plus 9 weeks project work at 25 hours per week.
Assessment
1st Attempt: 1 two-hours, 1 three-hours and 1 four-hours examination at end Semester 2 (70%); in-course assessment (30%).
Resit: 1 two-hour, 1 three-hour and 1 four-hour examinations.