Development biology

This compulsory S6 course explores the fundamental processes of embryonic development.

All the major stages of embryogenesis will be covered, including axis establishment, gastrulation, neurulation and organogenesis, as well as the basic concepts of induction, determination, differentiation and morphogenesis.

The course will emphasize a molecular and cellular interpretation of developmental processes, as well as the importance of an evolutionary approach to embryogenesis. 

The course will therefore systematically make links between its various disciplines, as well as with the material taught in the genetics courses.

The lectures will present the main principles, focusing on the two best-understood models of development in vertebrates (amphibians) and invertebrates (flies), and will also include a historical aspect, while the tutorials will be devoted to the evolutionary aspect (comparing different modes of development and understanding the logic of evolutionary constraints), as well as to the experimental approaches of modern molecular and cellular developmental biology.

- Knowledge:

• Molecular biology :

- Apply the concepts of genetic program regulation in the context of physiological processes

• Cell Biology :

-Understand and assimilate the major concepts of signalling pathway function

-Understand the impact of an interaction between a ligand and its receptor (conformation change, activation, etc.).

-Understanding the major signaling pathways

-Understand how Western blot and immunofluorescence approaches can be used to analyze the functioning of certain signaling mechanisms.

-Know-how :

• Molecular biology :

- Understand how molecular and genetic biology techniques can be applied to the practical study of biological systems.

• Cell biology: be able to read and interpret results obtained by experimental approaches using western blots and immunofluorescence.

-People skills :

• Understand the various concepts presented and use them to propose hypotheses on the functioning of molecular and cellular processes.
• Linking the various molecular mechanisms presented
• Communicate with teachers and other students to carry out brainstorming exercises. Be able to formulate a hypothesis based on knowledge.

-Be able to synthesize the functioning of a molecular mechanism in the form of a model diagram

Cellular and molecular biology 1 and 2, Genetics