BiSc 114
Developmental Biology
Fall 2003
GENERAL INFORMATION
Instructor:
Dr. K.M. Brown
Office: 332 Lisner Hall (Lab: 308 Bell Hall)
Phone: (202) 994-6193
Office Hours: M & W 8 a.m. - 10 a.m., and by appointment
Email: kmb@gwu.edu
Purpose of the Course:
Basic concepts of the biology of developing systems will be discussed. Lectures will stress
current views of the morphogenetic, biochemical, and genetic basis of embryo cell differentiation
and the experiments from which these observations were derived.
In the laboratory, we are primarily interested in histogenesis (tissue formation) and
organogenesis, the development of organ systems as they emerge from different combinations of
tissues. Echinoderm , amphibian, bird, and mammalian embryos will be studied. Since these
embryos are small, their internal anatomy is investigated by microscopic examination of embryo
sections. Experiments utilizing live embryonic materials will also be performed.
Reading Material:
Textbooks:
Gilbert, S.F. 2003. Developmental Biology. Seventh Ed., Sinauer Associates
Schoenwolf, G.C. 2001. Laboratory Studies of Vertebrate and Invertebrate
Embryos, Eighth Ed., Prentice Hall
Grading Procedure:
Lecture 60%
Lecture Midterm
Lecture Final
Lab Test 1
Lab Test 2
Lab Test 3
Total
Lab 40%
25%
35%
10%
15%
15%
_______
100%
BiSc 114
Developmental Biology
Fall 2003
Lecture Schedule
Date
Topic
Readings
T 9/2
Introduction-developmental systems and developmental
processes, historical perspective
Ch.1; Ch.2, 25-26, 39-40
R 9/4
T 9/9
R 9/11
Primoridial germ cell specification and migration, sex determination mechanisms, hormonal regulation of gonad
development in mammals
T 9/16
R 9/18
Meiosis, spermatogenesis, spermiogenesis, hormonal
regulation of spermatogenesis in mammals
Ch.7, 183-186; Ch.19, 628-631
T 9/23
Oogenesis, egg maturation and ovulation, human
R 9/25
menstrual cycle
Ch.5, 134-135; Ch.7, 186189; Ch.19,
631-636, 638-641
T 9/30
R 10/2
T 10/7
Fertilization and egg activation
Ch.7, 189-214
R 10/9
T 10/14
Cleavage, blastulation, gastrulation, neurulation
Ch.3, 69-77; Ch.8, 221-242; Ch.10, 305317; Ch.11, 345-363; Ch.12, 391-398
R 10/16
Lecture Midterm
T 10/21
Mammalian embryogenesis, experimental manipulation
363of mammalian eggs and embryos, determination of inner
cell mass and trophoblast
Ch.3, 68-69; Ch.4., 100-105; Ch.11,
T 10/28
R 10/30
T 11/4
Genome equivalence and differential gene expression
-embryological and molecular investigations
Ch.4; Ch.5, 107; Ch.18, 584-588
R 11/6
T 11/11
Transcriptional regulation of gene expression:
differential gene transcription during development
Ch.5, 107-126; Ch.18, 590-592
R 11/13
T 11/18
Control of development by regulation of RNA processing,
translational, and posttranslational events
Ch.5, 127-136
R 11/20
Autonomous specification: cell commitment by
cytoplasmic specialization
Ch.1, 10-11; Ch.3, 56-58; Ch.8, 228232, 242-250
T 11/25
Conditional specification: cell commitment by
induction
Ch.3, 59-63; Ch.6; Ch.10, 317-338;
Ch.12, 413-415; Ch.13
T 12/2
R 12/4
Pattern formation
Ch.3, 63-68; Ch.16; Ch.18, 592-600
R 12/18
Lecture Final Exam, 8:30 a.m.
R 10/23
Ch.3, 56; Ch.4, 93-100; Ch.9, 263-265,
270-276; Ch.14, 477-480; Ch.17; Ch.19,
613-628, 637-638; Ch.22, 731-732
374; Ch.15, 516-517; Ch.21; Ch.22, 739745
Bisc 114
Developmental Biology
Fall 2003
Laboratory Schedule
Lab Manual: Schoenwolf, G.C. 2001. Laboratory Studies of Vertebrate and Invertebrate Embryos.
8th Edition, Prentice Hall, Inc.
Additional Reference Texts: An assortment of lab manuals and other reference books
are available in the lab room.
DATE
T 9/2
R 9/4
TOPICS
Intro., sectioning procedures, echinoderm ( sea urchin)
development
SLIDES1
READINGS2
6.2, 6.4,
6.6
Echinoderm handout; S: 3-21,
281-284
G: Ch.8,
229-241
Experiment - in vitro fertilization of sea urchin eggs,
observation of cultured sea urchin embryos, exogastrulation
G: Ch.8, 221-239
T 9/9
R 9/11
Frog oogenesis, spermatogenesis and development
through gastrulation
7,8,9,
10,11,12
S: 11, 25-31, 38-39, 46-49
G: Ch.2, 26-30; Ch.10, 305-310
T 9/16
R 9/18
T 9/23
Frog neurulation and organogenesis (neural fold,
neural tube, hatching [4mm])
13,14,15
16,17 (midsagittal only),
18
S: 31-37, 39-45, 49-50
G: Ch.12, 395, 398-399;
Ch.15, 491-492
R 9/25
Lab Test 1 - echinoderm, frog
T 9/30
R 10/2
Bird oogenesis and spermatogenesis, chicken
development through 24 hr.
22,23,24,
25,26,27
S: 53, 74-102
G: Ch.11, 354-360; Ch.12, 391394; Ch.14, 465-466
T 10/7
R 10/9
33 hr. chicken embryo
T 10/14
R 10/16
Experiments - observations of live chicken embryos,
in vitro embryo culture; formation of a double heart
T 10/21
48 hr. chick embryo, extraembryonic
membranes, film
28,29,30
S: 53-73, 100-104
G: Ch.15, 491-495
S: 290-302, 314-315
G: Ch.15, 491-495
31,32(midsagittal only),
33
S: 104-137, 143-145
G: Ch.2, 46; Ch.14, 471-473;
Ch.15, 516-517
R 10/23
T 10/28
48 hr. chicken embryo (cont.)
"
R 10/30
Lab Test 2 - chicken
T 11/4 Mammalian oogenesis and spermatogenesis, 10 mm pig
R 11/6 embryo whole mount, 10 mm pig embryo nervous
T 11/11 system and somites
"
38,39,40,
41
"
S: 217-224, 236-239
R 11/13 10 mm pig embryo digestive, respiratory and
T 11/18 urogenital systems
516
41
S: 225-229, 236-239, 242-269
G: Ch.14, 477-480; Ch.15, 510-
R 11/20
T 11/25
T 12/2
10 mm pig embryo circulatory system
41
S: 229-239, 242-269
G: Ch.15, 495-501
R 12/4
Lab Test 3 - 10 mm pig
1. The slides which correspond to the numbers given below are listed on a separate sheet.
2. S and G refer to the Schoenwolf lab manual and the Gilbert lecture text, respectively.