Format of the Class:
The goal of this course is to introduce you to the very broad field of developmental biology. A particular emphasis is the intimate connection between developmental biology and evolution, which will be a theme throughout. Additional emphasis is on the connection between mechanisms of normal development and disease etiology. The course will cover general principles of development and current important issues. Relevant ethical issues will be discussed. Both invertebrate and vertebrate model systems will be covered, including Drosophila, C. elegans, chick, frog, zebrafish, mice and human.

The course is divided into multiple topics, each of which will be covered by two hours of lecture and two hours of discussion of research papers. In some cases, guest lecturers working in a specific area will teach a topic. One review article and one research paper will be handed out one week ahead of time and will be relevant to that week’s lecture topic. Groups of students will be responsible for leading discussion of research papers. Instruction on how to structure these discussions will be given.

Another emphasis of the course is to teach you how to experimentally approach the topics of development. Emphasis will be on hypothesis-driven research approaches. Students will become conversant with cutting edge molecular, genetic and imaging techniques that are applicable to analysis of many aspects of development.

Since development is a three (and four) dimensional subject, modeling materials will be used in some sessions. Discussions will include current news relevant to the lecture material. An optional additional discussion module using the book “Jurassic Park” as a tool to approach ethical and experimental issues in developmental biology research will be offered.

Text
Background will be provided for students who have not studied development before, and powerpoint presentations will be made accessible to the class.

However, Developmental Biology, 8th edition, by Scott Gilbert (published by Sinauer) is a very useful text, and recommended. Selected readings from this book will be suggested for some topics. Another useful and less dense book I recommend is Essential Developmental Biology 2nd edition, by Jonathan Slack (published by Blackwell).

WEEKLY PAPER DISCUSSIONS
Two or more students will be responsible for leading the discussion of papers each week. Each student will get at least two opportunities to lead a paper discussion and will get feedback after each session. 

Guidelines on how to read papers (see below) and to present material will be discussed. Leading the discussion will involve preparing powerpoint slides of each figure in the papers, as well as supplemental material. Leaders can organize the discussion as they wish, however this must include getting the rest of the class to participate! Everyone is expected to have read the papers, and be able to discuss them, including being able to explain the questions, hypotheses, methodology including controls, results and interpretation behind each experiment presented in the figures and tables. All students are encouraged to discuss papers prior to class, as understanding the literature is best done collaboratively.

reading research papers – some guidelines

In reading papers, it is useful to ask the following:

• What is the background to the paper - that is, the historical context? What was known before the present study was performed?
• What is the broad question that the authors wish to ask- for example, how does the embryo decide to form a neural tube?
• What is the specific question that the authors ask- for example, what is the role of the actin gene in regulating neural tube formation?
• What hypotheses are proposed and tested?
• What experimental approach tests the hypotheses? For each figure what experiments were performed? What aspect of the hypothesis does an experiment address?
• Are the experimental approaches appropriate, or would other approaches be better?
• Have appropriate controls been performed?
• Are you convinced by the conclusions that the authors draw from each experiment?
• Are the hypotheses made supported or not supported?
• Have the authors answered the specific question they set out to? 
• What experiments would logically follow from this study?

course requirements
Pass/Fail.

Attendance at all classes, active participation in class, and leading discussions as assigned is expected, as well as completion of the final project (below). For undergraduates, the course can only be taken pass/fail and therefore cannot count as a restricted elective.

Questions are encouraged in both lecture and paper review sessions. Naïve questions are encouraged and no question will be considered stupid. It is also expected that you will have read and considered all papers before the discussion session. You will be asked to keep a written record of techniques relevant to specific questions as the course proceeds. This compendium of techniques will serve as a useful future reference.

FINAL PROJECT

1. A review of a recent paper, as indicated below.
2. An updated list of your research techniques compilation.

Your review and compilation is due on Friday December 15, by 4pm (in Prof. Sive's office, Whitehead 401C), in hard copy and by midnight, electronically.

PAPER REVIEW
One recent paper relevant to the course will be assigned to you.  You will need to write a review of the paper (see below) and to propose one good next experiment. Also see Guidelines for reading papers, above. The review should be approximately 10 typed double-spaced pages, 11 or 12-point font (Arial or Georgia).

Please organize the review clearly, into the following sections.

• Indicate the title/reference of the paper and your name.
• A summary of relevant background information and statement of the major question being addressed and hypotheses tested (~1 page).
• A discussion of the experimental approaches – explaining the methodology, results and interpretation of the data (~3 pages).
• A summary of the overall conclusions, including a discussion of whether hypotheses were supported or not, and the strengths and weaknesses of the paper (~2 pages).

Finally, you will need to propose one further experiment you feel would best extend the study described (~4 pages). 

• A good next experiment will not only improve understanding of the subject, but will be constructed so that any results obtained will be meaningful.
• You need to include any hypothesis to be tested (rationale), experimental approach including potential problems and resolutions, potential results and discussion of which would support or refute your hypothesis. Diagrams may be included.
• A bibliography, not part of the 10 page limit, must be included. You should indicate at least one good review which helped you understand the paper.