5205 Biological Sciences II; (714) 824-6681
Susan V. Bryant, Department Chair
Faculty
Joseph Arditti: Developmental physiology of orchids
Kavita Arora: Drosophila development; TGF-ß signal transduction; cell signaling
Michael W. Berns: Laser microsurgery of cells, embryos, and tissues
Hans R. Bode: Pattern formation and stem cell differentiation
Marianne Bronner-Fraser: Mechanisms of cell migration and differentiation; cell surface-extracellular matrix interactions; morphogenesis; teratogenesis and abnormal development; neurotransmitter synthesis and plasticity
Peter J. Bryant: Tumor-suppressor genes of Drosophila and humans
Susan V. Bryant: Molecular basis of limb development and regeneration
Richard D. Campbell: Morphogenesis; biology of Hydra; fractal geometry of biological forms
Ken W.-Y Cho: Molecular mechanisms of axis specification in Xenopus
Donald E. Fosket: Regulation of cytoskeleton formation and function
Patrick L. Healey: Plant cellular differentiation and morphogenesis; ultrastructure and histochemistry of secretory systems; early reproductive development
Franz Hoffmann: Regeneration of cultured plant cells; somatic cell genetics
Daniel J. Knauer: Human antithrombins and related serine protease inhibitors
Stuart M. Krassner: Developmental transitions of hemoflagellates
Arthur D. Lander: Molecular mechanisms of cell and axon guidance; proteoglycans
Howard M. Lenhoff: Biology of Hydra; immobilized enzymes; history of experimental biology
J. Lawrence Marsh: Molecular genetics of development in Drosophila and humans
Ronald L. Meyer: Development of nerve connections, nerve injury and regeneration
R. Michael Mulligan: RNA editing in plant mitochondria and chloroplasts
Diane K. O'Dowd: Electrical excitability and synaptic connectivity during development
Research programs of the Department of Developmental and Cell Biology focus on molecular aspects of the development of eukaryotic organisms, on the molecular interaction of cells in tissue differentiation, and expression and function of genes related to the biogenesis of organelles and cellular constituents. The main emphasis of research training is in the molecular aspects of cells and development and the utilization of biotechnology. The Department maintains facilities for research that include genetic, molecular, and biochemical techniques and also has facilities in advanced electron optics, microsurgery, microinjection, and neurophysiology.
The Department offers graduate study in conjunction with the program in Molecular Biology, Genetics, and Biochemistry, which is described in a previous section. Students admitted into the combined program who select a research advisor in the Department begin following the departmental requirements for the Ph.D. at the beginning of their third year. Students participate in the Developmental or Cell Biology Journal Club and the departmental seminar series which meet weekly during the academic year. In the fall of their third year, students take the advancement-to-candidacy examination by presenting and defending a proposal for specific dissertation research. Students are expected to graduate within five years of residency in the program.
200A-B-C Research in Developmental and Cell Biology (2 to 12 per quarter) F, W, S. Individual research supervised by a particular professor. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
201A-B-C Advanced Topics in Developmental Biology (2-2-2) F, W, S. Seminar, two hours. Advanced study in various fields of organismic biology. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit.
203A-B-C Graduate Tutorial in Developmental and Cell Biology (4-4-4) F, W, S. Advanced study in areas not represented by formal courses. May involve individual or small group study through discussion, reading, and composition. Time and subject matter arranged individually.
204 Advanced Topics in Developmental Neurobiology (2) F, W, S. Seminar, two hours. Discussion of recent papers in the area of molecular aspects of cellular and developmental neurobiology. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Only.
206A-B-C Advanced Topics in Cell Biology (2-2-2) F, W, S. Seminar, two hours. Advanced study of various topics in cell biology. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Only.
209 Molecular Genetics Journal Club (2) F, W, S. Seminar, one and one-half hours. Advanced topics of current interest in molecular and developmental genetics. May be repeated for credit. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Only.
210 Advanced Development Genetics (4) W of odd years. Lecture, three hours. Advanced course on the use of genetic analysis to identify the genes that control cell behavior and development. Formal discussion, by instructor, of genetics and the relationship between genotype and phenotype, followed by student-led discussion based on assigned readings.
211 Faculty Research Colloquim (2) F. Research interests of faculty participating in the graduate program in Molecular Biology, Genetics, and Biochemistry are presented in weekly meetings. Corequisite: enrollment in the graduate program in Molecular Biology, Genetics, and Biochemistry.
231A Molecular Biology of the Gene (4) F. Lecture, three hours. Structure of genes and their regulation beginning with lectures on nucleic acid chemistry and a critical review of recombinant DNA technology and then focusing on the molecular mechanisms controlling gene expression. Special emphasis on gene regulation in developing systems. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
231B Cell Biology (4) W. Lecture, three hours. A biochemical, biophysical, and molecular view of cell biology. Topics include the biochemistry and
biophysical properties of membranes, membrane proteins, and associated molecules, the extracellular matrix, biological signal transduction, and intracellular second messenger generation. Lectures are from current research literature. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
231C Pattern Formation and Embryogenesis (4) W. Lecture, three hours. Development of animal eggs from fertilization until morphological specialization. Emphasis on two processes: pattern formation and morphogenesis. Patterning is studied genetically, experimentally through regeneration, and theoretically. Morphogenesis is analyzed in terms of cell behavior. Attention to the role of extracellular matrices in both processes. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
231D Developmental Neurobiology (4) S. Lecture, three hours. The cell cycle, growth control and cancer, cell lineages and differentiation, cellular analysis of the immune system, and the cell biology of the nervous system. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
231E Plant Cell and Development (4) S. Lecture, three hours. Organization: cell wall; cytoplasm; organelles. Differentiation: meristem; specialized cells. Development: cell division; fertilization; embryogenesis; cell culture. Transport and communication: xylem and phloem; plasmodesma; hormones. Interactions with other organisms: galls and crown gall; symbiosis; pathogens; genetic engineering. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
233 Cell Surface Biology (4-4) S of even years. Lecture, three hours. Modern concepts of cell surface organization and dynamics as well as cell-cell, cell-matrix, and hormone-cell interactions of normal and pathologic cells and tissues. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
236 Toxins and Cellular Injury (4) W of odd years beginning 1991. In-depth examination of potent toxins of animal, microbial, and plant origin that are responsible for cell damage in animals and plants. Mechanisms of cellular toxicity, with focus on the nucleus (nucleic acids), microtubules, mitochondria, and chloroplasts. Same as Environmental Toxicology 205.
250 Limb Development, Regeneration, and Evolution (4) F. Explores vertebrate limb development, regeneration, and evolution through directed reading of pertinent current literature concerning both experiment and theory.
251 Developmental Neurobiology (4) S of even years. Lecture, two hours; discussion, one hour. Developmental biology of the nervous system of vertebrates and invertebrates with emphasis on the cellular events underlying
differentiation, morphogenesis, synaptic connectivity, and electrochemical activity. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit.
253 Plant Cell Differentiation (4) W of odd years. Lecture, three hours. The cellular and molecular basis of plant cell differentiation. Different areas covered each quarter. Over the course of several years will discuss hormone action, seed protein synthesis and decomposition, cell wall deposition, nitrogen fixation, and chloroplast differentiation. May be repeated for credit.
254 Practical Electron Microscopy (5) W. Laboratory, four hours. Methods of electron microscopy including sample preparation, fixation, embedding, sectioning, staining, EM examination, EM photography, developing, printing, and data analysis. In addition, participants learn to use more than one type of EM including alignment, perform routine EM procedures, and use specialized EM accessory equipment such as an ultramicrotome, vacuum evaporator, and critical point dryer. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
255 Plant Morphogenesis (4) W of even years. Lecture, three hours. Examination of current problems in plant differentiation and its control, primarily at the tissue and whole plant level. A single major topic will be selected each year and will include such subjects as control of morphogenesis in shoot and root apices, flowering, control of cambial growth, pattern formation, plant embryology, and control of the formation of plant organs in culture. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Only. May be repeated for credit.
265 Parasitology (4) F, W, S. Seminar, one hour. Topics vary from year to year. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
290A-B-C Colloquium in Developmental and Cell Biology (2-2-2) F, W, S. Colloquium, one and one-half hours. Contemporary research problems. Research students, faculty, and other invited speakers introduce research and review topics. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Only.
399 University Teaching (4-4-4) F, W, S. Limited to Teaching Assistants. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Only.
