School: Medical and Health 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 Biology
  • Unit Code

    SCH3244
  • Year

    2025
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Andrew WOO

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:

  1. Analyse the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells along haematopoietic, neurogenic and myogenic lineages.
  2. Recognise the highly conserved nature of pattern formation in developing embryos of several species and describe the genes involved in these processes.
  3. Communicate the mechanisms of cell-cell interactions, cell migration and cell differentiation during the complex process of tissue and organ formation.
  4. Utilise several experimental methods to detect gene expression during development and assess phenotypic changes associated with genetic alterations.
  5. Explain gametogenesis, the path from sperm and egg to production of the embryo and the role of sex determination genes.
  6. 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.
  7. Describe the mechanisms of genetic engineering employed in the production of Dolly the sheep and transgenic mice.
  8. 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.

Unit Content

  1. Gene expression, transcription factors and epigenetic mechanisms
  2. Embryo development: Cleavage and gastrulation
  3. Embryo development: Anterior-posterior and dorso-ventral patterning
  4. Conserved families of developmental genes, segment, polarity and homeotic genes; homeobox and paired box genes;
  5. Development of nervous system: CNS, PNS and Eye
  6. Development of muscles and bones
  7. Development of blood and blood vessels
  8. Developmental genes and cancer
  9. Mammalian sex determination and sex-determination genes
  10. Genetic manipulation of animals and preclinical models
  11. Stem cells and regeneration
  12. Hands-on laboratory activities involving zebrafish and mouse embryos

Learning Experience

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 213 x 2 hour labNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 213 x 2 hour lectureNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures, seminars, laboratory classes, online 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, conduct laboratory activities and discuss their findings and ideas with the whole class. Students are required to conduct literature reviews, submit a written manuscript and give an oral presentation.

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 School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
TestDevelopmental Biology Online tests 30%
Literature ReviewLiterature review and Oral presentation40%
ExaminationDevelopmental Biology Final Exam30%

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.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

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