The course will highlight conceptual and technical approaches used in the field of Developmental Biology. This will include some historical perspective, as well as the most recent advances in genomics and molecular genetics. We will focus on the model system the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, and cover aspects of plant, amphibian, and mammalian development. We will try to relate the results from model systems to current biological and medical problems.
The course text Developmental Biology broadly covers more topics than we can discuss in one semester. Thus we will focus on the chapters listed in the syllabus. The assigned reading is required. In order to really assimilate the material it will be important to read the assigned readings BEFORE coming to class. Every other lecture period you will be assigned one or two figures from the textbook that you will be required to explain to the rest of the class during the class period. These semi-weekly short student presentations/explanations will serve to help you consolidate the material and to keep you reading and studying during the entire semester. These will be graded and count toward you participation grade at the end of the semester. Participation grade will also include your presentation of figures from original research papers that we will read before class and then present in class.
The lectures will draw mostly from the assigned readings but will include additional information from the primary literature. Power point presentations of the lectures will be available after the day of the lecture on the web at the course website.
Course Philosophy
“You cannot teach a [person] anything; you can only help [them] find it within [themself].
Galileo Galilei
This is an upper level undergraduate course. There will certainly be some memorization of facts that will be required. Developmental Biology like other fields has some unique vocabulary that you must master. However, I hope that you will be able to go beyond the memorization of terms and begin to integrate this knowledge into a bigger picture that includes other aspects of your life experience. I also hope to help you to read and discuss things critically, to question “facts”, to understand how certain data are gathered, and to consider the biases of the methodology and investigator. Through this course I hope that you will come to appreciate that science is a constantly evolving and changing field.
Course Prerequisites
At least GN311 or equivalent is required. Students MUST have had some prior instruction in molecular genetics. The course will examine developmental events at the molecular level. Thus a strong understanding of molecular genetics is essential. In particular a good understanding of the molecular mechanisms of transcription, translation and cell to cell signaling will be very helpful throughout this course.
Grading
Class participation/explaining at the board/homework 5%
Exam I 20%
Exam II 20%
Exam III 20%
Exam IV 20%
Team Presentation project 15%
Online Class Evaluations
You are very highly encouraged to fill out an on-line student evaluation of my teaching. It is important for me to receive feedback from everyone in the class. This helps me improve the class for future years. It only takes five minutes of your time and it is really important to me. Please take the time to fill out the evaluation during the last two weeks of the class.
Online class evaluations will be available for students to complete during the last two weeks of class. Students will receive an email message directing them to a website where they can login using their Unity ID and complete evaluations. All evaluations are confidential; instructors will never know how any one student responded to any question, and students will never know the ratings for any particular instructors.
Evaluation website: https://classeval.ncsu.edu
Student help desk: classeval@ncsu.edu
More information about ClassEval: http://www2.acs.ncsu.edu/UPA/classeval/index.htm
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In accordance with university policy, students are reminded of
1) The university policy on academic integrity found in the Code of Student Conduct.
2) The utilization implication of the Honor Pledge.
3) The instructor’s expectation concerning honesty in the completion of exams, quizzes and other assignments is that there will be absolutely no cheating. Any instances of cheating will be dealt with in a manner consistent with the university policy on academic integrity.