Biology of Development

Code:

BIOL3007

Acronym:

BIOL3007

Level:

300

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Biology

Instance: 2023/2024 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Biology
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Biology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
L:B	69	Official Study Plan	3	-	6	48	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

This course represents a systems approach to development, organized on the basis of life-cycles events (embryogenesis, post-embryonic development and reproduction) and of organ systems. It focuses on the mechanisms regulating growth, development and morphogenesis. Emphasis will be on pattern formation at cellular, tissue, and organ levels.

Therefore, the course focuses on the study of structure and development by integrating recent advances in Genetics and Molecular Biology and addresses the molecular processes underlying important responses to environmental signals during development.

Cell growth mechanisms (eg, cell division, differentiation, programmed cell death) are also explored in plant and animal models.

Learning outcomes and competences

At the end of the course, students should be able to describe the internal structures of the various organs of model organisms, the genes involved in organ formation, recognise and describe the developmental stages. Describe the mechanism behind the transition from vegetative to reproductive development in plants and the interplay between genes and environment, as well as integrate anatomy knowledge with molecular biology discoveries.
The student must also be able to compare the plant developmental biology with other biological models, namely animals (for example to compare mechanisms of signalling controlling processes of cell cycle, cell death and /or cell differentiation).

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

.

Program

Module 1. Plant Developmental Biology
Concept of development. Growth, differentiation and morphogenesis. Principles of pattern formation. Features unique to plant development. Positional information and cell fate in plant development. Cell cycle in plants; control of cell cycle. Cell polarity, cell division and development; unequal cell divisions and differentiation. Embryogenesis in land plants. Embryogenesis in Arabidopsis thaliana. Molecular and genetic mechanisms of embryo development. Pattern formation in embryogenesis. Apical-basal axis and radial axis. Postembryonic development. Apical meristems and organ formation. The origin of the primary root during embryogenesis. The control of patterning and morphogenesis during root development.
Shoot meristem formation in vegetative development; shoot apical meristem organization - layers and zones. Organ formation at the vegetative shoot meristem. Shoot apical meristem mutants and functioning of the shoot apical meristem. Transition from vegetative to flowering development in Arabidopis. Flower development; molecular genetics and the ABC model. Identification of floral homeotic genes. Cadastral functions of homeotic genes. Molecular functions of MADS box genes. Sex determination. Ovule development. 


Module 2. Introduction to Animal Development Biology.
History and basic concepts. Laws of embryology. Examples of environmental Influence. Major animal models in the study of developmental biology. Main stages of the life cycle. Competence, differentiation. Embryonic and adult stem cells. iPSC. Modes of specification. Morphogenic processes. Morgan's Experiences. Gradients of morphogenic signals. Signs / receptors, genetic regulation and pathways involved. Types of intercellular signaling (eg, justacrine, paracrine / autocrine, hormonal). Receptor families and signals (eg FGF, EGF, TGF-B, Hedgehog, Wnt, Delt, Retinoic acid). Examples of functions and associated cascades. 

Development and genetic control in the definition of plane patterns and axes. Maternal and zygotic genes. Definition of antero-posterior and dorsoventral planes. Genetic hierarchy. Homeotic genes and implications for anteroposterior differentiation and the development of anatomical structures. Examples of mutants. Hox homologies in mammals and implications on limb development.

Embryo development. Differentiation and definition of patterns in gastrulation. Center Nieuwkoop and Spemann. Gastrulation, and cell migration and adhesion properties. Germ layers. Notochord. Gastrulation in birds and mammals. Initial states of Organogenesis. Neurulation. Neural crest. Neural plate. Neural tube. Primary and secondary neurulation. Evolution for CNS and SNP. Somitogenesis and somits. Embryonic winding and definition of lateral and longitudinal shapes and patterns. Primitive gastrointestinal structure and anterior and posterior regions. Evolution of this structure in mammalians. Primitive cardiovascular structure. Somatopleura and Splancnopleura. Cardiac tube and evolution. Blood vessels and blood vessel formation. Pharyngeal arches. Development of the anterior and posterior limbs. Human and mouse case study. Signaling involved. AER and ZPA. Signaling involved. Role of the Hox selector genes.

Examples of anomalies. Case studies of signaling pathways: pathways and cascades of differentiation of the stem cell; pathways and cascades of programmed cell death.

Mandatory literature

Howell, S. ; Molecular genetics of plant development, Cambridge University Press, 1998
000072949. ISBN: 0-521-58784-0

Complementary Bibliography

Gilbert Scott F. 1949-; Developmental biology. ISBN: 978-0-87893-243-6

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical lectures supported by multi-media aids and practical laboratory work.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Teste	100,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	114,00
Frequência das aulas	48,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Enrollment in University courses requires regular class attendance as well as careful preparation. Therefore, students are expected to attend all their scheduled classes.

Practical/Theoretical-Practical classes are compulsory. However, absences are allowed to a maximum of 25% of their possible classes. That is, if students attend less than 75% of their possible classes they are excluded from final assessment.

Calculation formula of final grade

General Evaluation consisting of two mandatory written Assessments:

 -Assessment I, on a date to be defined in the middle of the Semester, covering Theoretical (T1) and Practical (P1) components;

- Assessment II, on a date to be defined by the Pedagogical Council in the normal period of examinations, covering Theoretical (T2) and Practical (P2) components. 

               FINAL CLASSIFICATION = ((T1+P1)+(T2+P2))/2

Students not approved in the Assessments, may be evaluated in the Second Evaluation period (Recurso). This consists of a final written exam covering Theoretical (T) and Practical (P) components

For approval the Final Classification must be equal to or higher than 10 values (9.5 rounded up to 10).

 

Examinations or Special Assignments

.

Internship work/project

.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

General Evaluation consisting of two mandatory written Assessments (as described above).
Or
Written exam (on the Second Evaluation period - Recurso) covering Theoretical (T) and Practical (P) components

Classification improvement

Final written exam in the second examination period (Recurso) covering Theoretical (T) and Practical (P) component

Observations

Contact Professors: Sílvia Coimbra, Miguel Santos, Raquel Almeida, Agostinho Antunes