TMR: Evalutionary developmental biology (Training Course)

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 01.0303

Key words (English)

Developmental biology; evolution; training course

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: ERBFMMACT980484

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 4. Frame Research Programme - 10.1 Stimulation of training and mobility

Short description (English)

See abstract

Partners and International Organizations (English)

Coordinator: Université Pierre et Marie Curie CNRS (F)

Abstract (English)

The advanced Training Course in 'Evolutionary Developmental Biology' was given at a time when there is a fusion between the fields of developmental biology and evolutionary studies. Development can only be understood in terms of evolution. The intensive analysis of model organisms like the mouse, drosophila and the worm C. elegans, which are amenable to genetic analysis, has led to the neglect of various other, mainly marine organisms which are important to understand the evolutionary aspects. This training course has closed this gap to a large extent. Besides giving the students an overview over the new 'evo-devo' field it introduced them into the most advanced methods:
-gene transfer by electroporation and microinjection followed by expression monitoring
-advanced imaging methods such as confocal microscopy and Ca2+ imaging -in situ hybridization
-Laser microdissection of nematode embryos If this course were made into a permanent institution it could compete favorably with the famous 'Embryology Course' at the Marine Biology laboratory in Woods Hole, in the US (a copy of the final report by Patrick Cormier, the local organizer, is enclosed).

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 01.0303