Cell and developmental biology for engineers
Summary
Students will learn essentials of cell and developmental biology with an engineering mind set, with an emphasis on animal systems and quantitative approaches.
Content
Students will be introduced to fundamental concepts and questions in cell and developmental biology, with an emphasis on animal systems and quantitative approaches. Topics include fertilization, cell polarity, genome activation, patterning, axis specification, gastrulation, organogenesis, regeneration, cell death, germ cell specification, cell migration, multicellularity and evolution. Students will learn that developmental systems must have the correct constituents (the what question), positional information (the where question), temporal information (the when question), as well as appropriate relationships between genes, cells, tissues and organisms (the how questions). Parallels will be drawn between concepts familiar to engineers and developmental systems to highlight underlying guiding principles.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, the student must be able to:
Transversal skills
- Access and evaluate appropriate sources of information.
- Take feedback (critique) and respond in an appropriate manner.
Teaching methods
Each week, the first two hours consist of lectures given by the teachers, whereas the next two hours consist of reading, demonstrations and/or exercises, including computer simulations (depending on the week).
Expected student activities
Students are expected to participate actively in all four hours of class. Moreover, four hours of personal study per week are expected on average.
Resources
Bibliography
Developmental Biology
Gilbert and Barresi, 11th edition, International
Ressources en bibliothèque
Moodle Link
In the programs
- Semester: Fall
- Exam form: During the semester (winter session)
- Subject examined: Cell and developmental biology for engineers
- Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Fall
- Exam form: During the semester (winter session)
- Subject examined: Cell and developmental biology for engineers
- Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional