BRIDGES Courses
BRIDGES I
G23. 1072. Molecular control of organism form and
function.
Instructors: Coruzzi/Benfey
4 Credits
Wed 9:30 - 12:45, Main 706
This course covers the molecular basis for establishment of form and
function in higher plants and animals. Lectures will cover how metabolism,
signaling and development are controlled. Model organisms will be used
to uncover the molecular basis for the comtrol mechanisms, and a broad
range of organisms will be used to study the diversity of these control
mechanisms in nature. The course will include the use of genomic approaches
to study genes controlling form and function in both plant and animal systems.
Prerequisites include a course in Molecular Biology.
Part I: Molecular control of plant form and function
1 . Floral molecular-genetics (Benfey) and diversity (Cameron)
Sept 6
2. Vegetative development I; Roots Benfey/ Cameron Sept
13
3. Vegetative Development II. Shoots Benfey/Cameron Sept
20
4. Carbon and Mineral Transport – Molecular mechanisms
and organismal diversity Coruzzi/Stevenson Sept 27
5. Plant genomics - Benfey Oct 4
6. Nitrogen use in plants-Molecular mechanisms and organismal
diversity- Coruzzi/ Stevenson Oct 11
7. . Photomorphogenesis; Molecular mechanisms and organismal
diversity- Coruzzi/Stevenson Oct 18
8 Signaling systems: From Arabidopsis to Cycads Coruzzi/
Stevenson Oct 25
Take Home Midterm
Part II. Molecular control of animal form and function
9. Introduction to Phylla (DeSalle) Sex determination
(Hubbard) and its diversity (DeSalle) Nov. 1
10. Axis determination (Desplan) and the diversity of
modes of segmentation (DeSalle) Nov. 8
11. Hox genes (Desplan) and the evolution of body plan
(DeSalle) Nov. 15
12. Imaginal disc development & transdetermination
(Desplan); metamorphosis and modes of direct/indirect development (DeSalle).
Nov. 22
13. Eye development (Desplan) and the diversity of eyes
(DeSalle). Nov. 29
14. Evolution of animal genomes, from worms to flies (Fitch)
Dec. 6
Take Home Final Exam
PLANT BIOLOGY: TEXTS RECOMMENDED:
1. Morphology and evolution of vascular plants, 3rd Ed.,
Gifford, Foster & Freeman.
2. Molecular genetics of plant development, Stephen Howell,
Cambridge University Press 1998, ISBN 0521 58784 0
ANIMAL DEVELOPMENT: TEXTS REQUIRED****:
3. Developmental Biology by Scott F. Gilbert
6th edition (April 1997) Sinauer Assoc; ISBN: 0-87893-243-7 http://www.sinauer.com/Titles/frgilbert.htm
4. The Shape of Life : Genes, Development, and the
Evolution of Animal Form by Rudolf A. Raff ; 520 pages (July
1996) University of Chicago Press; ISBN: 0226702669
BRIDGES II
G23.1069 Principles of Evolution: Ancestral Commonality
and the Emergence of Diversity
Instructors of Record: David Fitch and Rob DeSalle
4.0 credits
3-6 PM Fridays
610 Main Building (100 Washington Sq. E.)
1. Jan. 22. Fitch. Lecture. What is "homology"? A brief
historical perspective, and why it is a major organizing concept in biology
today (e.g., the relevance of model systems; as the "hierarchical basis
of comparative biology"). The major questions of Evolutionary Developmental
Biology and the emergence of biodiversity. Phylogenetic systematics as
a basis for testing hypotheses about evolutionary change. (Refs.: B. K.
Hall; R. A. Raff; Gerhart & Krischner.)
2. Jan. 29. DeSalle. Lecture. The methods of phylogenetic
systematics. Computer demonstrations and simulations. (Ref.: Hillis et
al. book.)
3. Feb. 5. Ken Cameron. Lecture. Using phylogenetic systematics
to test evolutionary hypotheses; e.g., features as adaptations (i.e., testing
for convergence); homologies (e.g., testing for congruence among characters);
biogeographic distributions (i.e., testing for congruence to area cladograms);
reconstructing the evolution of morphological change on a "phylogenetic
framework". Examples from plants and/or other organisms.
4. Feb. 12. Fitch. Lecture/Discussion. Allometric growth
and heterochrony as descriptions of evolutionary changes in development
leading to morphological diversity. A brief historical perspective. Mechanism
or effect? (Refs.: Hall; Raff; Gould books; Raff & Wray paper)
5. Feb. 19. Fitch. Lecture/Discussion. Molecular mechanisms
underlying heterochronic change. Evolution of globin gene expression in
primates as a case study for the evolution of novel function via heterochrony.
(Refs.: Goodman et al.; Gumucio et al. papers.)
6. Feb. 26. Richard Borowsky. Lecture/Discussion. Population
genetic and QTL approaches to identify genes responsible for evolutionary
change. Cave adaptation in fishes as a case study. Microevolutionary foundation
for the "candidate gene" approach to find genes responsible for evolutionary
change; selected Drosophila lines as a case study (?). (Refs.: Borowsky
et al.; Mackay et al. (?) papers)
7. Mar. 5. Fitch. Discussion. Heterotopy and the evolution
of developmental regulatory networks. Using development to propose homologies.
The nematode vulva and the male tail as case studies in the application
of the "candidate gene" approach. (Refs.: Sommer et al.; Sternberg et al.;
Fitch et al. papers.)
8. Mar. 12. DeSalle. Lecture/Discussion. Origin of the
Hox gene cluster and the control of anteroposterior axial patterning. Hox
gene phylogenies.
9. Mar. 19. DeSalle. Discussion. Evolution of arthropod
appendages. Do Hox genes impose "developmental constraints" (which are
what?)? (Refs.: Carroll et al. papers.) (This Friday is officially during
Spring Break, but let's have class anyway!)
10. Mar. 26. Billie Swalla. Guest Lecture. Molecular basis
for evolutionary developmental differences between closely related species
of ascidians. (Refs.: Swalla et al. papers.)
11. Apr. 2. Greg Wray. Guest Lecture/Discussion. Recruitment
of old genes for new morphologies in echinoderms.
STUDENT PAPERS DUE FOR PEER REVIEW.
12. Apr. 9. Victor Albert. Lecture/Discussion. Evolution
of plant reproductive development from sporangium through the flower to
inflorescence.
REVIEWS DUE.
13. Apr. 16. Albert. Lecture/Discussion. Homeosis. Alteration
of floral organ identity and the generation of angiosperm diversity.
14. Apr. 23. Tim Motley. Conservation genetics of plants:
A modern case study integrating molecular systematics, developmental biology
and genomics.
REVISED VERSIONS OF STUDENT PAPERS DUE.
15. Apr. 30. Staff. Student presentations; concluding
discussion.
Recommended textbook:
J. C. Gerhart and M. Kirschner. 1997. Cells, Embryos and
Evolution: Toward a Cellular and Developmental Understanding of Phenotypic
Variation and Evolutionary Adaptability. Blackwell Science, Inc. (Paper,
ISBN 0865425744, $69.95 from www.amazon.com; or hardcover, ISBN 0632043962
(1998), $74.95.)
Paper and Presentation Assignment:
Students will be assigned to groups of 3 each to research
and prepare a focused research proposal based on a problem relevant to
the topics covered in the course. The paper will be submitted for peer
review to 2 other groups, who will write reviews (which will be turned
in for evaluation). Proposals will then be revised and turned in for grading
April 23. Using any creative format, the material in the proposals will
be presented in front of the class during the last lecture session within
a 12-minute interval. Proposals and presentations will be evaluated on
their relevance, potential for success, innovation and clarity of presentation.
Final grades will be based 50% on class participation
(not merely attendance) and 50% on the paper, presentation and review.
BRIDGES III
G23.1073 BIOTIC RESOURCES: INTEGRATIVE APPROACHES
TO BIODIVERSITY & CONSERVATION
Biology G23.1073 (4 credits)
Wednesday 12:30 - 3:30
1009 Main Building - Biology Dept. Conference Room
TOPIC, LECTURER, DATE
1. Biodiversity, Cultural Diversity, and the Changing Biosphere, Lentz,
Jan 19
2. Historical Ecology and Ancient DNA, Lentz/DeSalle, Jan 26
3. Management Strategies and Biodiversity Conservation, Daly, Feb 2
4. Conservation in Practice: CITES Regulations and ex situ, DeSalle/Amato,
Feb 9
Conservation
5. Conservation Genetics, Amato/DeSalle, Feb 16
6. Systematics in the Study of Plant Resources, Boom, Feb 23
7. Digital Imaging and Database Management, Kirchgessner/Indoe, Mar
1
TAKE-HOME MID-TERM EXAM
8. Intellectual Property Rights and International Patent Law, Dreyfuss,
Mar 8
Spring Break
9. Applications of Natural Products Chemistry, Kennelly, Mar 22
10. Small Holder Systems of Plant Resource Management, Padoch, Mar 29
11. Biodiversity Prospecting and Bioethics, Beck, Apr 5
12. Biogeography and Phylogenetic Diversity, DeSalle/Amato, Apr 12
13. Role of Life in the Global System-Carbon/Nitrogen Cycles, Volk/Lentz,
Apr 19
14. GIS and Visualization of Biodiversity, Podolsky, Apr 26
TAKE-HOME FINAL EXAM
