DEVELOPMENTAL - Heidelberg University

Major Developmental BiologyDEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGYDevelopmentalBiology is one ofthe fastest growing biologicaldisciplines in thelast years. It isthe basic science to understand humandevelopmet,cancer, and aging and it opens perspective for regenerative medicine.Researchin Developmental BiologyThe central issue in developmental biology is how from a single cell (the fertilized ovum) complex cellular networks are formedthat finally can give rise to the highest levels oforganismic complexity. Understanding theways, how this fundamental biologic problemis solved by Nature is a topic of many projectsof developmental biologists within the Heidelberg research community. Current research topics in Heidelberg include early pattern formation, the development of cell typesand organ systems including the nervous system and plant development, the evolution ofdevelopmental mechanism, aging and senescence, and stem cells in developmentalbiology and medicine.Many Heidelberg research groups arefocused on the field of pattern formation,i.e. the communication between cells and1within cells. This is a central issue in developmental biology with major relations toquantitative and modeling approaches, andresearchers from Heidelberg have made important contributions to this field. Extensivecommunication between cells is required despite the fact that the form of an organism isalready preprogrammed in its DNA. Pathways of communication are mediated bysignaling molecules, which are released bysignaling centers that organize other cellswithin a tissue or an organism. Signaling centers play a fundamental role in embryogenesis and regeneration, and they are disturbed or miss-activated in many types ofcancer. The origins of individual organ systems during development, organogenesis,also involves general rules that can be genetically dissected in various model systems. The-

se general rules form a conceptual frameworkand it is a challenge to model them on a theoretical level and to understand on the molecular level how they contribute to the origin ofthe many thousands of cell types that makeup a complex organism. This promising twistbetween theory and experiment is a majortopic of our new research groups modelingdevelopmental processes. The developmentalapproach also opens new perspectives forclassical fields in biology: Comparative genomics and the analyses of developmental mechanisms in a broad range of species fromworms to human revealed the existence ofbasic developmental mechanisms and we begin to understand the evolution of organisms on mechanistic level. With the realization that our genome is far more plastic thanpreviously suspected, such studies are alsocritical to understand the long-term outlookof our own species. But also the immensecomplexity of the nervous system gets unraveled: In the last years, it was found that duringneurogenesis many of the molecules andmechanisms used in other organ systems alsoact in the formation of the nervous system.Developmental biologists require and receive training in a broad spectrum of methods from molecular cell biology. Approaches and Methods include cellular and microscopic techniques (life cell imaging, fluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy, FRET and FRAP analyses), quantitative and spatial analysis of mRNA and proteins, techniques for the expression of geneproducts in embryos, microinjection, cell andtissue transplantation in embryos, wholemount in situ hybridization, use of syntheticmRNA, promoter analysis, transgenesis, protein-protein and protein–DNA interactions,DNA foot-printing, mutagenesis screens,bioinformatics, modeling computational analysis based on spatial expression data and more.2

Bachelorstudies towardsDevelopmentalBiologystudy of Developmental Biology. The undergraduate course Methods of MolecularCell Biology offers an introduction into theworking methods of bioscience labs. Herestudents will learn fundamental skills for biochemical, molecular biological and microbiological work. In the undergraduate courseThere are two Bachelor study programsin Biology in Heidelberg: Biology and Molecular Experimental Physiology and Developmental Biology students will conduct basicCell Biology. Both programs are suited for theexperiments in Neurobiology and DevelopMajor program in Developmental Biology. Heremental Biology: students will study the unliwe give students information about coursesmited regenerative capacities of freshwaterand lectures that are especially relevant forpolyps, the fertilization and early developthe study of Developmental Biology.ment of frogs, and the embryogenesis of astchicken.1 Year: The BasicsIn the undergraduate lectures 1 and 2,3rd Year: Towards Development Biostudents will be introduced to general biologilogycal concepts that every biologist must know:With the ‘cycle lectures’ relating to theCell biology, Systematic and Evolution. Oftopics Molecular Cell Biology, Biochemistry andspecial importance for the study of Developmental Biology are the courses 'Zoology A Molecular Biology, students are invited to deeB'. Here students can learn how the different pen their knowledge in fundamental subjectsof molecular biosciences. The following cyclebody plans have become increasingly morelecture is focused on Developmental Biology:complex and powerful in the course of animal evolution, e.g. how the simple nervous of Cell Biology 4: Molecular DevelopmentalBiology / Genetic Model Systems. Hereworms developed into the complicated huthe students will get an introduction to geneticman brain, or how appendages and othernovelties did arise during evolution. The non- model systems where major discoveries inbiological minor subjects will demand a great Developmental Biology have been made, e.g.the worm, the fly, the fish, the frog and thedeal of time for students in the first year ofmouse. This lecture is followed in by a coursestudy (Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics).For the study of Developmental Biology these (HP-F) entitled Genetic Model Systems:subjects are important, because Developmen- Fish, Fly, Frog, Mouse and Polyp. Thiscourse will introduce the beauty and strengthtal Biology is an interdisciplinary field of reof the various genetic model systems used insearch. Students have to be chiefly familiarDevelopmental Biology today. The course willwith Physical Chemistry and Chemistry inbe accompanied by a seminar introducing theorder to get a deeper understanding Biochelatest literature. Both, the lecture and themistry and Molecular Biology.course are required to enter the Major prondgram in Developmental biology, although2 Year: Introduction into the Mostudents are encouraged to hear other lectureslecular Biosciencesor participate in other courses and seminars.In the undergraduate lectures 3 4 students will be introduced to Biochemistry, Mo- In the 3rd year students should also take thelecular Biology, Cell and Developmental Bio- opportunity to get to know developmentalbiology in work groups in main courses (3logy as well as Physiology of animals andweeks full time). Here, 3rd year students canplants. For these lectures for students shouldfind ‘their work group’, in which they wouldrevise the subject with the help of textbooks.like to carry out the Bachelor thesis.All subjects are of vital significance for any3

MasterDevelopmentalBiologyStudents can choose one preferred majorin our Master study program. Teaching language will be English and eight Majors areoffered in 2007/08:Cancer BiologyDevelopmental BiologyEvolution and EcologyInfectious DiseasesMolecular and Cellular BiologyMol., Cell. & Dev. Biology of PlantsNeuroscienceSystems Biology.Our study program will offer studentsoptimal conditions to access graduate programs in their relevant research areas. Theregular time for the Master study program aretwo years and leads to the degree MSc Molecular Bioscience, Major Developmental Biology. It should be emphasized that theprogram is organized in a way that eager students can also pass it in only 3 semesters sothat they can enter PhD study program earlier.Admission. European students can apply until the 15th of July 2007 for a place inthe major Developmental Biology. For NonEuropean applicants there is an extra application procedure starting at the 15th of April.We recommend that you choose an additionalmajor in case Developmental Biology is overbooked. In each major program a ranked listof applicants will be compile according tothree selection criteria: Academic results forBachelor Degree (max. 15 points), specialqualifications (max. 15 points), result of a selection interview (max. 30 points).Approval notifications will be sent out bythe end of August. The course of study willcommence with the beginning of the wintersemester 2007/2008, starting October 1st.the course for all Masters students: Frontiersin Biosciences 1 and 2.Each module is made up of lectures andtutorials as well as a course (three weeks) withan accompanying seminar. The lecturers whotake these modules also offer the major modules in 2nd - 4th semester. Students in Developmental Biology choose an accompanyingcourse and seminars strengthening and deepening their knowledge in Molecular Biologyand Cell Biology with a focus on methodsrequired for Developmental Biology. We offertwo courses Advanced Molecular Biologyfor Developmental Biologists (RNATechniques) and Advanced Biochemistryfor Developmental Biologists (Recombinant Protein in Bacterial and EukaryoticExpression Systems). These courses arenecessary to get familiar with a number offundamental techniques frequently used inthe analysis of developmental processes, e.g.the injection of synthetic RNA into eggs andembryos or the expression of recombinantsignalling molecules in eukaryotic expressionsystems2nd Semester: Focus BiosciencesTwo modules in second semester offer anintensive program in modern DevelopmentalBiology. The two modules Focus Biosciences 1 and 2 provide a broad program thatdeals with Developmental Biology from thelevel of molecules and cells to the level ofwhole organisms. It includes lectures, tutorials, courses and seminars. The courses areorganized in such a manner that students willget familiar with a broad spectrum of methods used in Developmental Biology, e.g.advanced life cell imaging technology (confocal and 2-photon laser scanning microscopy,FRET and FRAP analyses), techniques forthe expression of gene products in embryos,promoter analysis, transgenesis, protein-protein and protein–DNA interactions, bioinformatics, image analysis, and modeling approaches. We will also offer a course on the evolution of developmental mechanisms (Laboratoire Arago of the CNRS and Université1st Semester: Frontiers in BioscienPierre et Marie Curie (Paris) in Banyuls-surcesmer) as well as courses on human genetics, i.e.The Masters Degree consists of seven on mammalian fertilization and on the immodules, which students can complete in 3-4portance of developmental mutations in husemesters. The first two modules are part ofman diseases. In our lectures we will give an4