Gene Differentiation & Gamete Biology

Paper Code: 
ZOL-421
Credits: 
4
Contact Hours: 
60.00
Objective: 

OBJECTIVES                                                   

The course objective is to provide students with a basic understanding of:

  1. Problems  and scope of developmental biology, Process of gametogenesis and Fertilization, Cell commitment, specification and differentiation
  2. Genetics of axis specifications in Drosophila, Tetrapod limb development, Chromosomal sex determination in mammals
  3. Morphogenesis, Significance of  Stem Cells, Teratology

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

  1. Describe problems  and scope of developmental biology, Process of gametogenesis and Fertilization, Cell commitment, specification and differentiation
  2. Describe genetics of axis specifications in Drosophila, Tetrapod limb development, Chromosomal sex determination in mammals
  3. Describe the process of Morphogenesis and Teratogenesis, Significance of  Stem Cells.
16.00
Unit I: 
UNIT I

Introduction to  animal development

  • Problems  and scope of developmental biology
  • Development in unicellular eukaryotes
  • Developmental patterns in Metazoans

Spermatogenesis

Oogenesis & vitellogenesis

  • Morphology
  • Endocrinology
  • Ovarian follicular growth and differentiation

Ovulation and ovum transport in mammals

12.00
Unit II: 
UNIT II

Fertilization

Creating multicellularity

  • Cleavage types, planes and pattern
  • Blastulation
  • Gastrulation in tetrapods: Morphogenetic movements

Early Vertebrate development(till differentiation)

  • Neurulation: Formation and Differentiation of neural tube

 Derivatives of Ectoderm, Mesoderm and endoderm

12.00
Unit III: 
UNIT III
  • Cell commitment, specification and differentiation
  • Cell specification in nematodes
  • Germ cell determinants
  • Germ cell migration
  • Progressive cell -cell interaction

Early development in Birds and Mammals

  • Cleavage and Gastrulation
  • Establishment of body axis
10.00
Unit IV: 
UNIT IV
  • Genetics of axis specifications in Drosophila

Homeobox concept

Tetrapod limb development

  • Specification of the Limb fields:Hox genes and Retinoic acid
  • Induction of the early Limb bud : Fibroblast Growth factors
  • Specification of Forelimb or Himdlimb:Tbx4 and Tbx5
  • Induction of the apical Ectodermal ridge
  • Generating the Proximal –Distal axis of the limb
  • Specification of the Anterior –Posterior limb
  • Generation of  the Dorsal –Ventral axis of the limb
  • Cooordination of the three axis
  • Cell Death and the formation of the digits and Joints

Hormones as mediators of development

  • Amphibians Metamorphosis: Morphological Changes, Biochemical Changes associated with metamorphosis and Hormonal Control

Insect Metamorphosis: Types of insect metamorphosis, Hormonal control

10.00
Unit V: 
UNIT V

Chromosomal sex determination in mammals: Testis determining genes, Ovarian genes

Secondary sex determination in mammals

Environmental sex determination

 Significance of  Stem Cells

Teratology

Essential Readings: 
  • Gilbert, S. F. (2010). Developmental Biology, IX Edition, SinauerAssociates,Inc., Publishers, Sunderland, Massachusetts, USA.
  • An Introduction to Embryology :Balinsky, B.I. : W.B. Saudersm, Delhi.
  • Development Biology.Berrill, N.J. McGraw Hill book Com. New York.
References: 
  • Modern Embryology :Bodemer, C.W. : Holt Reinchart and Winstom, Inc. New York, Chicago.
  • Carlson, R. F. Patten's Foundations of Embryology
  • Kalthoff (2008). Analysis of Biological Development, II Edition, McGraw-HillPublishers.
  • Lewis Wolpert (2002). Principles of Development. II Edition, Oxford UniversityPress.
  • Gene activity during early development, Davidson, E. H. Academic Press, New York.
Academic Year: 
2019-2020
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