The structure and function of formed elements in the nucleus will be discussed. Emphasis will be on understanding how knowledge in this field is acquired, rather than on a comprehensive treatment of all nuclear structures and functions. This understanding will be obtained by analyzing original data, both in lectures and by independent reading of significant papers in the field. Topics include gametogenesis, fertilization, embryonic cleavage, gastrulation, early vertebrate development, determination of fate by cytoplasmic specification and inductive interactions, regulation of developmental processes at transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels, pattern formation, molecular genetics of Drosophila development, and sex determination. The latter topic is related to the Human Genome Diversity Project.
Students also learn quantitative techniques in evolutionary genetics.
Through the use of modern phylogenetic software packages, students will learn how to reconstruct evolutionary histories of organisms. Topics include models of cladogenesis, coalescence, models of DNA substitution, estimating rates of change, likelihood estimation of phylogeny, Bayesian inference of phylogeny, distance and parsimony methods, bootstrap hypothesis testing using phylogenies, testing the molecular clock, testing cospeciation, examining the fit of models of DNA substitution, and uses of Markov chain Monte Carlo for phylogeny inference. Course centers on genetic approaches to developmental questions. Students examine current literature and partake in active discussions. Topics include content and arrangement of DNA sequences in the genome, structure of specific genes, RNA synthesis and processing, and the structure and composition of chromatin and chromosomes.