Course Identification

How does the genetic material dictate pattern formation during embryonic and post-embryonic development? Research over the past three decades has revolutionized our understanding of embryonic development in a wide range of multicellular organisms. This knowledge allows us now to address the seminal issues of pattern formation in a deep and comprehensive manner. This new understanding can be coupled to a wide range of technologies that became available, such as high-resolution live imaging, targeted mutagenesis, and single-cell analysis. The course will review the universal principles that were uncovered, mostly through genetic analyses, and present the ways in which this information can now be coupled to the new technologies.

Upon successful completion of the course, the students will be able to:

Gain a general knowledge in basic genetics and molecular biology will allow to appreciate the new aspects the course will provid

The course is expected to acquante the students with a new way of thinking about biological problems, by focusing on the whole organism. While a wide range of molecular approaches will be discussed, the final and critical assays are always carried out within the whole organism. To allow the students to adjust to this approach, the course also includes weekly exercises that will be solved in class after their submission. The format of the exam with open notebooks will be similar to the exercises, and will require a creative and critical analysis of information that will be provided.