Course Description
Developmental Biology studies the molecular mechanisms and cellular processes underlying the generation of an organism from a single-celled embryo. Evolutionary biology seeks to understand the origins of diversity among organisms. This course examines the intersection of these two fields to investigate how changes in developmental mechanisms underlie morphological evolution.
Athena Title
Evolution and Development
Prerequisite
GENE 8150 or GENE 8930 or CBIO 8300 or permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
This course is designed to introduce graduate students to advanced concepts in developmental biology and evolutionary principles, and their relationship to morphological evolution. Students will learn the major conceptual and experimental approaches in embryonic development of plants and animals, and how these approaches are applied to questions of morphological evolution. Students will also learn the basic principles of molecular evolution and how they apply to understanding the mechanisms underlying the evolution of diversity. Students will demonstrate their understanding through class discussion and presentations, as well as through examinations and written assignments. Emphasis will be on critical thinking, synthesis of complex concepts, and discussion of current conflicts in the field.
Topical Outline
Topical Outline (possible topics) Introduction to evolutionary developmental biology Morphological evolution Mutation Measuring molecular evolution Natural evolution versus domestication Paleodevelopmental biology Skeletal development Concepts in developmental biology Morphogens and signaling pathways Cis-regulatory changes and the developmental toolkit Protein function changes and the evolution of novelty Establishing positional identity in the embryo Limb development - a case study Pharyngeal development - a case study Flower development - a case study Experimental evolutionary biology - evolution in the lab
Syllabus
Public CV