Learning outcomes

Understand essential concepts of the development at the molecular level through examples chosen in various model organisms

Content

Molecular mechanisms of development in Arabidopsis thaliana (Johan Messiaen)

  • a. Auxin as an example of morphogen
  • b. Embryonic stages and the acquisition of polarity and symmetries
  • c. Tissue differenciation of the root and shoot
  • d. Floral transition

 

Molecular mechanisms of development in metazoans (P. Renard)

  • a. Soluble signals (morphogens)
  • b. Cell contacts (juxtacrine signals)
  • c. Integration of signals from morphogens and juxtractine signals and effect on morphogenesis of the tetrapods, on cell migration and on cell polarity

 

Unicellular model organisms (J-Y. Matroule)

  • a. Metabolism modification
  • b. Intraflagellar transport
  • c. Importance of asymmetry (polar morphogenesis, sporulation)

Table of contents

J. Messiaen

  • Chap. 1: Auxins - Synthesis and metabolism - Morphogen effects - Auxin polarized transport - Auxin molecular targets
  • Chap. 2: Embryogenesis - Embryogenic stages of Arabidopsis thaliana - Symmetry axes - Early polarization of the embryo - Introduction to root embryogenesis - Introduction to the embryogenesis of the shoot apical meristem - Diffrenciation of lateral organs
  • Chap. 3: functioning of shoot apical meristem - CLV and WUS mutants - Cellular dynamics within the meristem - Molecular dynamics within the meristem
  • Chap. 4: functioning of the root meristem - The quiescent center: origin and cellular dynamics - Differentiation of the endodermis : cellular and molecular dynamics - Differentiation of the root hairs: cellular and molecular dynamics
  • Chap 5: Floral transition - The floral meristem - Homeotic mutants of the flower in Arabidopsis thaliana - ABC model and variants - Factors inducing flowering

P. Renard

1.Introduction
  • 1.Reminder : main developmental stages
  • 2.stem cells vs differentiated cells
  • 3.Cell fate / cell potency
  • 4.Induction / competency
2.Paracrine signals : morphogens
3.Contact signals 
4.Cell migration
 

Exercices

No exercises

Teaching methods

J. Messiaen : blackboard and powerpoint presentation on the basis of outstanding interest research papers

P. Renard : blackboard and powerpoint presentations. Concepts are unraveld through examples from the recent research papers.

J-Y. Matroule: powerpoint slides and blackboard. Experimental data from the latest scientific publications are presented.

Assessment method

Students will have 3 questions (1 by teacher) during an oral examination and will pass successively in front of each examinator. Questions will be about the concepts developped during the course AND the examples used to illustrate these concepts. Concerning the metaozan part, the examination consists in interpreting correctly some figures extracted from a high-level publication relative to the topics of the course.

Sources, references and any support material

J. Messiaen : reference research papers are available on webcampus

P. Renard : reference research papers are available on webcampus

J-Y. Matroule: Papers of interest are available on webcampus

Language of instruction

French
Training Study programme Block Credits Mandatory
Bachelor in Biology Standard 0 2
Bachelor in Biology Standard 3 2