Section 1: Groundwork.

1 The Excitement of Developmental Biology.

· Where the subject came from.

· Central position in biology.

· Impact on society.

· Future impact.

2 General Features of Development.

· Genomic equivalence, cloning of animals.

· Gametogenesis.

· Early development.

· Morphogenetic processes.

3 Developmental Genetics.

· Developmental mutants.

· Screening for mutants.

· Cloning of genes.

· Transgenesis.

· Limitations of developmental genetics.

4 Experimental Embryology.

· Normal development.

· Developmental commitment.

· Acquisition of commitment.

· Homeotic genes.

· Criteria for proof.

5 Techniques for the Study of Development.

· Microscopy.

· Study of gene expression by biochemical methods.

· Study of gene expression by in situ methods.

· Reporter genes.

· Microinjection.

· Cell-labelling methods.

· Cell sorting.

Section 2: Major model organisms.

6 Model Organisms.

· Availability and cost.

· Access and micromanipulation.

· Genetics and genome maps.

· Relevance.

7 Xenopus.

· Oogenesis, maturation, fertilization.

· Embryonic development.

· Experimental methods.

· Regional specification.

· Inductive interactions.

8 The Zebrafish.

· Normal development.

· Mutagenesis.

· Regional specification.

9 The Chick.

· Normal development.

· Regional specification of the early embryo.

· Description of organogenesis in the chick.

10 The Mouse.

· Mammalian fertilization.

· Normal development.

· Technology of mouse development.

· Regional specification in development.

· Other topics in mouse development.

11Drosophila.

· Insects.

· Normal development.

· Drosophila developmental genetics.

· Overview of the developmental program.

· The dorsoventral pattern.

· The anteroposterior system.

12 Caenorhabditis elegans.

· Normal development.

· Regional specification in the embryo.

· Analysis of postembryonic development.

· Programmed cell death.

Section 3: Organogenesis.

13 Tissues and stem cells.

· Types of tissue.

· Tissue renewal.

· Skin.

· Intestine.

· Haematopoietic system.

14 Development of the Nervous System.

· Overall structure and cell types.

· Anteroposterior patterning of the neural plate.

· Dorsoventral patterning of the neural tube.

· Neurogenesis and gliogenesis.

· The neural crest.

· Development of neuronal connectivity.

15 Development of Mesodermal Organs.

· Somitogenesis and myogenesis.

· The kidney.

· Germ cells and gonads.

· Limb development.

· Heart and blood vessels.

16 Development of Endodermal Organs.

· Normal development.

· Determination of the endoderm.

· The pancreas.

17 Drosophila Imaginal Discs.

· Metamorphosis.

· Genetic study of larval development.

· Mitotic recombination.

· Disc development.

· Regional patterning of the wing disc.

Section 4: Growth, regeneration and evolution.

18 Growth and ageing.

· Size and proportion.

· Growth in stature.

· Ageing.

· Postnatal disorders of growth and differentiation.

19 Regeneration of Missing Parts.

· Distribution of regenerative capacity.

· Planarian regeneration.

· Vertebrate limb regeneration.

20 Evolution and Development.

· Macroevolution.

· The primordial animal.

· What really happened in evolution?.

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Appendix.

Key Molecular Components.

· Genes.

· Transcription factor families.

· Signalling systems.

· Cytoskeleton.

· Cell adhesion molecules.

· Extracellular matrix components.

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Glossary.

Index