Evo Devo Fall2013
EEB 5333, Fall 2013
Evolutionary Developmental Biology
Meeting Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2:00-3:15 pm, Bamford Room (TLS 171B)
Contents
- 1 Description
- 2 Instructors
- 3 Announcements and Handouts
- 4 Expectations and Grading
- 5 Topics and Readings
- 5.1 Week 1 (Aug. 27/29): Overview of evolutionary developmental biology (EJ)
- 5.2 Week 2 (Sept. 3/5): Morphological and molecular patterns (EJ)
- 5.3 Week 3 (Sept. 10/12): The molecular building blocks of development (CS)
- 5.4 Week 4 (Sept. 17/19): Evolution of developmental networks (CS)
- 5.5 Week 5 (Sept. 24/26): Homology (CS)
- 5.6 Week 6 (Oct. 1/3): Homoplasy (CS)
- 5.7 Week 7 (Oct. 8/10): Constraints (EJ)
- 5.8 Week 8 (Oct. 15/17): Novelty (EJ)
- 5.9 Week 9 (Oct. 22/24): Morphospace (CS)
- 5.10 Week 10 (Oct. 29/31): Modularity (EJ)
- 5.11 Week 11 (Nov. 5/7): Robustness and plasticity (CS)
- 5.12 Week 12 (Nov. 12/14): Evolvability (EJ)
- 5.13 Week 13 (Nov. 19/21): Case studies (CS/EJ)
- 5.14 Week 14 (Nov. 26/28): Happy Thanksgiving!
- 5.15 Week 15 (Dec. 3/5): Project Presentations
Description
This is an advanced course that explores the interface between evolutionary biology and developmental biology. In addition to considering how developmental pathways evolve, and the developmental basis of phenotypic evolution, we will ask what novel insights emerge from a synthesis of these fields. Major topics to be considered include the following: developmental constraints, homology, plasticity, novelty and evolvability.
Instructors
Dr. Elizabeth Jockusch
Office: Biology/Pharmacy 305B
Phone: (860) 486-4452
Office hours: by appointment
Dr. Carl Schlichting
Office: Torrey Life Sciences 366
Phone: (860) 486-4056
Office hours: by appointment
Announcements and Handouts
It's time to begin the conversations about project topics. We'd like everyone to have a topic approved by Sept. 20. You can initiate conversations with us by email or in person. Cera, Nora, Ellen, Wei: your primary contact is Carl. Dister, Nasim, Jeff, Tim: your primary contact is Elizabeth.
Discussion leaders: Please email a pdf with discussion questions to both Elizabeth and Carl. In the ideal world, this would happen no later than Tuesday night of the week you will present. we will post it on the website.
Books & Sources in Evolutionary Developmental Biology
Expectations and Grading
This course has a mixed lecture/discussion format. In general, Tuesdays will be used for lectures that provide an overview and background information. Thursdays will be dedicated to student-led discussion based on reading from the literature. We expect everyone to participate actively in the class. In order to help prepare for discussions, you should write a brief (<1 page) reaction piece to each set of readings, highlighting your thoughts about the readings, connections between them or questions raised by them. This will be handed in each week. Responsibility for leading the discussions will rotate. You are expected to complete an independent project on a topic of your choice. Ideally, your topic will be closely connected to your own research interests, and also integrate multiple topics covered in class . You should discuss your choice of topics with one of us no later than Friday, Sept. 20. To help you stay on track, an outline and relevant references are due on Tuesday, Oct. 8. The final project paper is due by Monday Nov. 25, and the last week of class will be devoted to presentations and discussions based on these projects. There will be one take-home exam due the day of the Final Exam. It will consist of one or several essay questions that will ask you to integrate the knowledge that you have acquired during the course.
Deadlines
Weekly | Discussion pieces |
Friday, Sept. 20 | Project topic approved |
Tuesday, Oct. 8 | Project outline and references due |
Monday, Nov. 25 | Project paper due |
Dec. 3-5 | Project presentations |
Tuesday, Dec. 10 | Final exam due |
Course grade
Discussions | 35%, including participation, leading discussion, and reaction pieces |
Independent project | 40%, based on presentation (15%) and paper (25%) |
Final exam | 25% |
Topics and Readings
Week 1 (Aug. 27/29): Overview of evolutionary developmental biology (EJ)
Discussion Leader: Elizabeth
Discussion Readings:
- Moczek AP. 2012. The nature of nurture and the future of evodevo: toward a theory of developmental evolution. Int. Comp. Biol. 52:108-119. link
- Wray GA. 2010. Embryos and evolution: 150 years of reciprocal illumination. Pp. 215-239 In Bell MA, Futuyma DJ, Eanes WF, Levinton JS, Evolution since Darwin: The First 150 Years. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland MA. [EJ will provide copies]
- Müller GB. 2007. Evo-devo: extending the evolutionary synthesis. Nat Rev Genet. 8(12):943-9. link
If time permits (I know there's not much this week!), I'd also encourage you to read this:
Week 2 (Sept. 3/5): Morphological and molecular patterns (EJ)
Discussion Leader: Jeff
Discussion Readings: The developmental hourglass and the phylotypic stage
- Quint M, Drost HG, Gabel A, Ullrich KK, Bönn M, Grosse I. 2012. A transcriptomic hourglass in plant embryogenesis. Nature 490(7418):98-101.link
- Irie N, Kuratani S. 2011. Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals vertebrate phylotypic period during organogenesis. Nat Commun. 2:248. link
- Xiangjun Tian, Joan E. Strassmann and David C. Queller. 2013. Dictyostelium Development Shows a Novel Pattern of Evolutionary Conservation. Mol. Biol. Evol. 30:977-984. link
Week 3 (Sept. 10/12): The molecular building blocks of development (CS)
Discussion Leader: Cera
Discussion Readings:
Discussion Questions:
Week 4 (Sept. 17/19): Evolution of developmental networks (CS)
Reminder: Talk to Carl or Elizabeth about your proposed project this week!
Discussion Leader: Carl
Discussion Readings:
Discussion Questions:
Week 5 (Sept. 24/26): Homology (CS)
Discussion Leader: Nora
Discussion Readings:
Discussion Questions:
Week 6 (Oct. 1/3): Homoplasy (CS)
Discussion Leader: Carl
Discussion Readings:
Discussion Questions:
Week 7 (Oct. 8/10): Constraints (EJ)
Reminder: Project outlines and references due on Tuesday!
Discussion Leader: Dister
Discussion Readings:
Discussion Questions:
Week 8 (Oct. 15/17): Novelty (EJ)
Discussion Leader: Nasim
Discussion Readings:
Discussion Questions:
Week 9 (Oct. 22/24): Morphospace (CS)
Discussion Leader: class
Discussion Readings:
Discussion Questions:
Week 10 (Oct. 29/31): Modularity (EJ)
Discussion Leader: Wei
Discussion Readings:
Discussion Questions:
Week 11 (Nov. 5/7): Robustness and plasticity (CS)
Discussion Leader: Tim
Discussion Readings:
Discussion Questions:
Week 12 (Nov. 12/14): Evolvability (EJ)
Discussion Leader: Ellen
Discussion Readings:
Discussion Questions:
Week 13 (Nov. 19/21): Case studies (CS/EJ)
Discussion Leader: Elizabeth
Discussion Readings:
Discussion Questions:
Reminder: Project papers are due on Monday, Nov. 25!
Week 14 (Nov. 26/28): Happy Thanksgiving!
Week 15 (Dec. 3/5): Project Presentations