BIOL5250 - Molecular Genetics of Development

Development is the process by which organisms grow and acquire their final shape. This remarkably complex process requires exquisite spatiotemporal control, and principles of developmental biology have implications for nearly all other biological disciplines. This course is a deep dive into these general biological principles, using plants as a model system. Students will prepare presentations on primary literature and engage in vigorous discussions in a "journal club" format. Our goal is to learn how developmentally significant genes and cellular interactions control differentiation and pattern formation.