Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science
School: Medical Sciences
This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.
Unit Title
Developmental BiologyUnit Code
SCH3244Year
2015Enrolment Period
1Version
1Credit Points
15Full Year Unit
N
Mode of Delivery
On Campus
Description
This unit is an introduction to the study of developmental biology with respect to the influence of genetics on stem cell differentiation: molecular mechanisms defining cell position, migration, differentiation and embryonic patterning; germ layer formation, organ and tissue production and sex determination during embryonic development.
Prerequisite Rule
Students must pass 1 units from SCH2226
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this unit students should be able to:
- Analyse the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells along haematopoietic, neurogenic and myogenic lineages.
- Communicate the mechanisms of cell-cell interactions, cell migration and cell differentiation during the complex process of tissue and organ formation.
- Describe the mechanisms of genetic engineering employed in the production of Dolly the sheep and transgenic mice.
- Discuss the use of stem cells and DNA recombinant technology in modern medicine for therapeutic transplantation or 'in vitro' production of defined cells and tissues.
- Explain gametogenesis, the path from sperm and egg to production of the embryo and the role of sex determination genes.
- Explain the paired and segmented arrangement of the embryo - why we have two arms and legs and five fingers and toes on each hand and foot.
- Recognise the highly conserved nature of pattern formation in developing embryos of several species and describe the genes involved in these processes.
- Utilise several experimental methods to detect gene expression during development and assess phenotypic changes associated with genetic alterations.
Unit Content
- Conserved families of developmental genes, segment, polarity and homeotic genes; homeobox and paired box genes.
- Crytical analysis of methods to generate knockout mice and transgenic animals.
- Embryonic patterning, cell migration, differentiation and cellcell interactions.
- Investigate anterior-posterior and dorso-ventral patterning of the embryo, soluble factors, transcription factors and epigenetic mechanisms.
- Neural tube patterning and nervous system development; delta-notch signalling, brain and eye development.
- Somitic cell migration and differentiation to form limbs and digits.
- Stem cells, haematopoiesis, skeletal and heart muscle formation and bone development.
- Wild type and mutant embryos drosophila, zebra fish, chick and mouse.
Additional Learning Experience Information
Lectures, seminars, laboratory classes, on-line tutorials, and audio-visual aids totalling 4 hours per week. Industry based guest lecturers will detail the latest in research in their field. Students are required to work in small teams to plan and conduct a small research project. Each group is required to communicate the outcomes of their research project to the whole class during seminars. Students will each submit a written report in the form of a research manuscript, on the processes and outcomes of the experiments.
Assessment
GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units
Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.
ON CAMPUS| Type | Description | Value |
|---|
| Research Paper | Assignment | 30% |
| Examination | Mid semester examination | 30% |
| Examination | End of semester examination | 40% |
Text References
- ^ Slack, J.M.W. (2006). Essential developmental biology (2nd ed.). Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing.
- Suga, H., Tschopp, P., Graziussi, D., Stierwald, M., Schmid, V., & Gehring, W.G. (2010). Flexibly deployed Pax genes in eye development at the early evolution of animals demonstrated by studies on a hydrozoan jellyfish. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (July 26, 2010).
- Gilbert, S.F. (2010). Developmental biology (9th ed.). Sunderland, MA: Sinauer Associates, Inc.
Journal References
- From Genes to Cells
- Kozmik, Z. (2005) Pax genes in eye development and evolution. Current Opinion in Genetics and Development, 15(4): pgs 430-8.
- Nature Genetics
- Williams, M.E., de Wit, J., Ghosh, A. (2010). Molecular mechanisms of synaptic specificity in developing neural circuits. Neuron, 68(1), pgs 9-18.
- Biason-Lauber, A. (2010). Control of sex Development. Best Practice and Research Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 24(2), 163-86.
- Developmental Biology
- Developmental Genetics
- Buckingham, M. (2007). The Role of Pax Genes in the Development of Tissues and Organs. Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology, 23, 645-673.
- Development
^ Mandatory reference
Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)
For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.
Academic Misconduct
Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:
- plagiarism;
- unauthorised collaboration;
- cheating in examinations;
- theft of other students' work;
Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.
The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.
SCH3244|1|1
Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science
School: Medical Sciences
This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.
Unit Title
Developmental BiologyUnit Code
SCH3244Year
2015Enrolment Period
2Version
1Credit Points
15Full Year Unit
N
Mode of Delivery
On Campus
Description
This unit is an introduction to the study of developmental biology with respect to the influence of genetics on stem cell differentiation: molecular mechanisms defining cell position, migration, differentiation and embryonic patterning; germ layer formation, organ and tissue production and sex determination during embryonic development.
Prerequisite Rule
Students must pass 1 units from SCH2226
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this unit students should be able to:
- Analyse the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells along haematopoietic, neurogenic and myogenic lineages.
- Communicate the mechanisms of cell-cell interactions, cell migration and cell differentiation during the complex process of tissue and organ formation.
- Describe the mechanisms of genetic engineering employed in the production of Dolly the sheep and transgenic mice.
- Discuss the use of stem cells and DNA recombinant technology in modern medicine for therapeutic transplantation or 'in vitro' production of defined cells and tissues.
- Explain gametogenesis, the path from sperm and egg to production of the embryo and the role of sex determination genes.
- Explain the paired and segmented arrangement of the embryo - why we have two arms and legs and five fingers and toes on each hand and foot.
- Recognise the highly conserved nature of pattern formation in developing embryos of several species and describe the genes involved in these processes.
- Utilise several experimental methods to detect gene expression during development and assess phenotypic changes associated with genetic alterations.
Unit Content
- Conserved families of developmental genes, segment, polarity and homeotic genes; homeobox and paired box genes.
- Critical analysis of methods to generate knockout mice and transgenic animals.
- Embryonic patterning, cell migration, differentiation and cellcell interactions.
- Investigate anterior-posterior and dorso-ventral patterning of the embryo, soluble factors, transcription factors and epigenetic mechanisms.
- Neural tube patterning and nervous system development; delta-notch signalling, brain and eye development.
- Somitic cell migration and differentiation to form limbs and digits.
- Stem cells, haematopoiesis, skeletal and heart muscle formation and bone development.
- Wild type and mutant embryos drosophila, zebra fish, chick and mouse.
Additional Learning Experience Information
Lectures, seminars, laboratory classes, on-line tutorials, and audio-visual aids totalling 4 hours per week. Industry based guest lecturers will detail the latest in research in their field. Students are required to work in small teams to plan and conduct a small research project. Each group is required to communicate the outcomes of their research project to the whole class during seminars. Students will each submit a written report in the form of a research manuscript, on the processes and outcomes of the experiments.
Assessment
GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units
Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.
ON CAMPUS| Type | Description | Value |
|---|
| Literature Review | Assignment | 30% |
| Test | Mid semester test | 30% |
| Examination | End of semester examination | 40% |
Text References
- ^ Slack, J.M.W. (2006). Essential developmental biology (2nd ed.). Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing.
- Suga, H., Tschopp, P., Graziussi, D., Stierwald, M., Schmid, V., & Gehring, W.G. (2010). Flexibly deployed Pax genes in eye development at the early evolution of animals demonstrated by studies on a hydrozoan jellyfish. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (July 26, 2010).
- Gilbert, S.F. (2010). Developmental biology (9th ed.). Sunderland, MA: Sinauer Associates, Inc.
Journal References
- Developmental Genetics
- Developmental Biology
- Williams, M.E., de Wit, J., Ghosh, A. (2010). Molecular mechanisms of synaptic specificity in developing neural circuits. Neuron, 68(1), pgs 9-18.
- Kozmik, Z. (2005) Pax genes in eye development and evolution. Current Opinion in Genetics and Development, 15(4): pgs 430-8.
- Biason-Lauber, A. (2010). Control of sex Development. Best Practice and Research Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 24(2), 163-86.
- From Genes to Cells
- Nature Genetics
- Buckingham, M. (2007). The Role of Pax Genes in the Development of Tissues and Organs. Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology, 23, 645-673.
- Development
^ Mandatory reference
Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)
For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.
Academic Misconduct
Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:
- plagiarism;
- unauthorised collaboration;
- cheating in examinations;
- theft of other students' work;
Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.
The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.
SCH3244|1|2
