History & basic concepts of development : Overview of how the modern era of developmental biology emerged through multidisciplinary approaches, stages of development- zygote, blastula, gastrula , neurula, cell fate & commitment – potency- concept of embryonic stem cells, differential gene expression, terminal differentiation ,lineages of three germ layers, fate map, Mechanisms of differentiation-cytoplasmic determinants, embryonic induction, concept of morphogen, mosaic and regulative development, Pattern formation– axis specification, positional identification (regional specification), Morphogenetic movements, Model organisms
Early Development in invertebrate /vertebrate models -Drosophila, C.elegans, Xenopus, Mouse/ human: Cleavage, gastrulation, Axis specification (Dorsoventral, anterior posterior), & body plan patterning, left right asymmetry in vertebrates
Late Development in invertebrate /vertebrate models :Organogenesis- development of ectodermal organs, mesodermal organs, endodermal organs, vulval formation in C.elegans,
Germ cell specification& migration
Overview of plant development
Medical implications of developmental biology – genetic errors/ teratogenesis/ stem cell therapy etc