Program Overview

DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY

COURSE INFORMATION

• Code: 65535
• Academic Year: 2025/2026
• Credits:
  • 5 cfu anno 2 BIOTECNOLOGIE 8756 (L-2) - GENOVA
  • 6 cfu anno 3 SCIENZE BIOLOGICHE 8762 (L-13) - GENOVA
• Scientific Disciplinary Sector: BIO/06
• Language: Italian
• Teaching Location: GENOVA
• Semester: 1° Semester

PREREQUISITES

• Propedeuticitŕ in ingresso: To take this course, it is necessary to have passed the following exams:
  • Biological Sciences 8762 (coorte 2023/2024)
  • Institutions of Mathematics
  • Cytology and Histology and Laboratory
  • Zoology with Laboratory
  • Biological Sciences 8762 (coorte 2024/2025)
  • Institutions of Mathematics
  • Cytology and Histology and Laboratory
  • Zoology with Laboratory
• Propedeuticitŕ in uscita: This course is a prerequisite for the following courses:
  • Biological Sciences 8762 (coorte 2023/2024)
  • General Pathology Immunology and Laboratory 61617

TEACHING MATERIALS

• AULAWEB

OVERVIEW

The course aims to present the fundamental principles and molecular mechanisms that control and regulate the main aspects of animal development: formation of body axes, cell differentiation, morphogenesis, and organogenesis. During the course, the experimental approaches, both classic and modern, that have been used in the study of development processes will be illustrated.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Developmental Biology aims to provide a basic knowledge of reproductive biology and the main processes of embryology. Topics such as the interaction between gametes, formation of early body plane, communication between cells, cell differentiation, regulation of gene expression during development, morphogenetic movements, and organogenesis will be covered.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Attendance and participation in the planned training activities (lectures and laboratory activities) will allow the student to acquire the most important aspects of Developmental Biology, from fertilization to morphogenesis and the use of various model organisms.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE

• Development of unicellular and colonial eukaryotes
• Evolution of differentiation
• Protostomes and Deuterostomes
• Primordial Germ cell formation
• Meiosis
• Spermatogenesis
• Oogenesis
• Sperm and egg structure
• Recognition between sperm and oocyte: attraction of the sperm, acrosome reaction, gamete fusion, and the prevention of polyspermy
• Early and late activation of oocyte metabolism
• Fertilization in mammals: sperm capacitation, acrosome reaction
• Fusion of genetic material
• Presumptive territories
• Determination of cell fate
• Mechanisms of cell differentiation
• Mosaic and regulative development
• Potential and gradients in the oocyte
• Progressive determination of embryonic cells
• Nieuwkoop Center and Speeman Organizer
• Primary embryonic induction
• Molecules involved in inductive interactions
• Control of regional specificity

TYPES OF SEGMENTATION

• Mechanisms of segmentation
• Karyokinesis and cytokinesis
• Types of gastrulation in Protostomes and Deuterostomes
• Morphogenetic movements in gastrulation
• Implantation processes of blastocysts in mammals including humans
• Formation of extra-embryonic membranes in Vertebrates
• Embryonic annexes
• Types of placenta in mammals including humans
• Molecular control of embryonic sheets migration
• Neurulation in Vertebrates
• Morphogenesis of the central nervous system
• Neural crests and their derivatives
• Dorsal mesoderm and somites differentiation
• Lateral plate mesoderm: myogenesis, angiogenesis, and hematopoiesis
• Endoderm and its derivatives

DEVELOPMENT OF THE VERTEBRATE EYE

• Primary and secondary sex determination in mammals
• Environmental determination of sex
• Post-embryonic development in Vertebrates
• Metamorphosis and aging
• Embryonic and adult stem cells
• Examples of tissue regeneration
• In vivo models for the study of human diseases

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

• Simona Candiani
• Matteo Bozzo
• Sara Ferrando
• Andrea Amaroli (Substitute)

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists of an oral part. The oral exam is related to the topics covered during the course. It is always conducted by the teachers of the course for at least 30 minutes (typically 45 minutes).

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The exam is aimed at assessing the knowledge of the fundamental elements of the subject and the ability to link the various topics.

EXAM SCHEDULE

• 19/01/2026: 09:00, GENOVA, Orale, Aula 301 Palazzo delle Scienze
• 02/02/2026: 09:00, GENOVA, Orale, Aula F04 Perrier Palazzo delle Scienze
• 19/02/2026: 09:00, GENOVA, Compitino
• 19/02/2026: 09:00, GENOVA, Orale
• 19/02/2026: 09:00, GENOVA, Compitino
• 19/02/2026: 09:00, GENOVA, Orale
• 19/02/2026: 09:00, GENOVA, Orale, Aula 301 Palazzo delle Scienze
• 22/06/2026: 09:00, GENOVA, Orale
• 06/07/2026: 09:00, GENOVA, Orale
• 22/07/2026: 09:00, GENOVA, Orale
• 14/09/2026: 09:00, GENOVA, Orale

FURTHER INFORMATION

Attendance at lessons is strongly recommended, while that at laboratories is required in the measure of 70%.