Developmental Biology
You will learn how a single cell can generate an organism with hundreds of different cell types in this course. As the fertilized egg divides and generates multiple cells, the embryo becomes patterned through differential gene expression. As stem cells differentiate into specilazed cell types, functional tissues and organs form. The role of cell-cell signaling in these processes will be emphasized.
We will discuss how the embryo takes on its three-dimensional form in a process called morphogenesis. You will also learn how evolution has influenced development, and how embryo devlopment has shaped evolution. A number of different model organisms, including fruit flies (Drosophila), frogs (Xenopus), mouse and plants (Arabidopsis) will illustrate the concepts and principles discussed in the course.
The course is taught on campus where lectures, lab practicals and other teaching activities take place.
In the first week we introduce basic concepts, the second week focuses on patterning the Drosophila embryo, and this is followed by a discussion of vertebrates and plants. Morphogenesis, stem cells and organogenesis, development of the nervous system and post-embryonic development is covered next. In the final week, the link between development and evolution is discussed.
There are on campus activities virtually everyday during the course, but also time for self-studies.
Teaching Format
Learning opportunities will be provided by lectures, student assignments, group activities, computer and laboratory exercises, as well as by formative assessments (duggor and lab reports).
Participation in laboratory exercises, quizzes (duggor), group activities, and teaching activities connected with these are mandatory. The lectures are really important for understanding what to focus on and for understanding difficult concepts.
Learning outcomes
A list of the learning outcomes can be found in the syllabus. Please find the link to the syllabus on the right side of this page.
Assessment
The course will be examined through written laboratory reports, student assignments, oral presentations of relevant subjects and a written exam at the end of the course.
Examiner
Qi Dai
Email: qi.dai@su.se
Alek Erickson
Email: alek.erickson@su.se
Other teachers:
Qiaolin Deng
Ylva Engström
Mattias Mannervik
Edouard Pesquet
Christos Samakovlis
Lewis Wolpert. Principles of Development. 7:e upplagan. 2025 Oxford university press. ISBN 9780192896612.
To learn about research in Developmental Biology at Stockholm University, follow these links:
also
Video in Swedish about how fruit flies help us understand how cancerous cells differ from normal cells:
