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Biology Teaching and Learning Centre · ANU College of Science and Medicine
How do complex multicellular organisms develop from a single cell? How did mechanisms of development evolve through millions of years of evolution? How does temperature, light and environmental chemicals affect development? This course integrates evolutionary, ecological and molecular perspectives to investigate how animals and plants develop and interact with their environment. The course will cover the following topics: developmental regulatory genes and hormones (including signalling pathways and transcription factors), morphogenesis, maintenance of homeostasis, regeneration, interaction with biotic and abiotic environmental factors, plasticity, stem cells and transdifferentiation, genetic and genomic basis of evolution of multicellularity and body forms. The practical section will expose students to modern techniques used in developmental biology research using plant and animal model systems. During practicals, student teams will be carrying out two consecutive mini-projects during which they will attempt to solve biological riddles. Written manuscript-style reports and oral conference-style presentations will be peer-reviewed before assessment. The course should appeal to students interested in molecular biology or biomedicine as well as those interested in organismal biology. Honours pathway option (HPO) Entry to this option will be subject to the approval of the course conveners. Students who take this option will be required to critically assess and present current scientific literature on topics related to ecological and evolutionary developmental biology. The HPO assessment (journal club type seminar or a literature review) will count toward 20% of your mark, with the weighting of standard assessments 1 and 2 reduced to 20% each.
Written report from practical 1 and peer review of practical 1 reports
Learning outcomes 1, 4
Seminar and abstract from practical 2
Learning outcomes 3, 4
Tutorial quizzes. This assessment item is a hurdle and students must achieve a minimum of 40% overall in quizzes to pass the course.
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3
For HPO students only: a journal club type seminar or a minireview on selected topic, to be agreed on with course convenor. Worth 20% of marks, students taking HPO have value of assessments 1 and 2 reduced to 20% each, so that assessments 1, 2 and 4 together are worth 60% of marks.
Learning outcomes 5
The expected workload will consist of approximately 130 hours throughout the semester including: - Face-to face component which may consist of 2 x 1 hour lectures per week (total 24 hours), 10 x 3 hours (total 30 hours) of practical or workshop sessions, and 1 hour (total 12 hours) of tutorial per week throughout the semester. - Approximately 65 hours of self directed study in total, which will include preparation for lectures, presentations and other assessment tasks. Students are expected to actively participate and contribute towards discussions. Other Information If you experience problems enrolling in this course, please contact the Biology Teaching and Learning Centre rsb.studentadmin@anu.edu.au . Please note prerequisites apply.
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