EZO-30306 Developmental Biology of Animals

Course

Credits 6.00

Teaching methodContact hours
One day excursion4
Lectures24
Practical extensively supervised8
Practical intensively supervised52
Tutorial3
Self-study
Course coordinator(s)dr. ir. S Kranenbarg
Lecturer(s)dr. ir. S Kranenbarg
dr. MJM Lankheet
Examiner(s)dr. ir. S Kranenbarg

Language of instruction:

Dutch or English

Assumed knowledge on:

CBI-10306 Cell Biology; EZO-10306 Human and Animal Biology I and HAP-20306 Human and Animal Biology, part 2.

Contents:

This course is designed to introduce you to the practical aspects of animal development. The course is divided into four parts. The first part introduces you to the embryology of three important model species: zebrafish (Danio rerio), chicken (Gallus domesticus), and mouse (Mus musculus). The subsequent three parts are devoted to the experimental manipulation of the model animals. Although experimental work on mice is very important, it is rather difficult to perform in a classroom setting. We therefore chose the nematode (Caenorhabditis elegans) for the practical work. The mouse embryos is therefore only introduced by its embryology. Each part in the course will take one week.

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
- recognize the embryonic stages of four model species in developmental biology:
nematode (C. elegans), zebrafish (Danio rerio), chicken (Gallus domesticus), and mouse (Mus musculus);
- interpret microscopic sections through these embryos;
- summarize the characteristics of these species that make them popular model species;
- execute an experimental protocol;
- design a simple experiment using one of the model species;
- judge your experimental results;
- compose a scientific report.

Activities:

- actively participate in the lectures and study the discussed material;
- prepare and actively participate in the laboratory exercises, including designing and performing your own experiments on the model species;
- write reports on the laboratory exercises.

Examination:

- reports of the laboratory exercises to be made in pairs (45%);
- written examination with open questions (55%).

Literature:

Manual including background reading material for the lectures and a description of the laboratory exercises. (Available at the WUR-shop).
S.F. Gilbert (2013). Developmental Biology, 10th ed. Sinauer Associates. Note: this textbook is not compulsory, but is suggested as a very useful complementary information source.

ProgrammePhaseSpecializationPeriod
Restricted Optional for: MBIBiologyMScH: Molecular Development and Gene Regulation6WD
MASAnimal SciencesMScF: Applied Zoology6WD