Biologisch-medizinisches Schwerpunktfach

Coordinator:

Elisa Izaurralde

Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology

Tel: 601-1350

e-mail: elisa.izaurralde[AT]tuebingen[DOT]mpg[DOT]de

Methods and concepts in developmental and cellular biology 

Developmental Biology covers a broad range of disciplines including biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology, genetics, embryology and evolutionary biology. This Schwerpunktfach is designed to provide students with a theoretical background and practical experience on current research topics, with an emphasis on those practiced at the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology and the Friedrich Miescher Laboratory of the Max-Planck Society in Tuebingen.

Lecture and Laboratory courses offered:

1) Lecture series: “Current topics in evolutionary and developmental biology”

These lectures feature an in-depth analysis of the current literature in evolutionary and developmental biology. The lectures will emphasize molecular, cellular, genetic and evolutionary aspects of developmental systems.

• Organization: Wolfram Antonin, Martin Bayer, Silke Hauf, Elisa Izaurralde, Gáspár Jékely, Andrei Lupas, Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard, Andrew Renault, Ralf Sommer, Detlef Weigel

• Summer semester : April 12 – July 12, 2011

• Every Tuesday 14.00 – 15.30 hours

• 2 SWS

• Place: Lecture Hall, Max-Planck House, Spemannstrasse 36

• No registration is required
  

Current topics in evolutionary and developmental biology
Program 2011:
April 12 Andrei Lupas: Molecular evolution
April 19 Andrei Lupas: Molecular evolution
April 26 Ralf Sommer: Evolutionary biology and the interface to development
May 3 Ralf Sommer: Evolutionary biology and the interface to development
May 10 Andrew Renault: Cell migration during development
May 17 Gáspár Jékely: Nervous system evolution
May 24 Wolfram Antonin: Membrane Biology
May 31 Silke Hauf: Cell cycle, cell division and their interface to development
June 7 Detlef Weigel: Natural genetic variation in plants
June 13th-18th Pentecost
June 21 Martin Bayer: Cell biology and developmental genetics: patterning in plants
June 28 Elisa Izaurralde: Silencing pathways: Mechanisms and Function
July 5 Christiane Nuesslein-Volhard: Developmental genetics
July 12 Christiane Nuesslein-Volhard: Developmental genetics

A detailed schedule can be found at: http://www.eb.tuebingen.mpg.de/seminars-courses

2) Dienstagskolloquium (DiKo)

These seminars are intended for use as an adjunct to the lectures series on “Current topics in evolutionary and developmental biology”. Directors and Group leaders of the Max Planck Institute provide an overview of their current research.

• Each semester. The list of speakers can be found at:

  http://www.eb.tuebingen.mpg.de/seminars-courses

• Every Tuesday at 16.00 hours

• 1 SWS

• Place: Lecture Hall, Max-Planck House, Spemannstrasse 36

• No registration required

3) Mittwochskolloquium (MiKo)

These seminars are part of our External Visitor Lecture Series covering all areas of biology. Invited speakers are established scientists with an outstanding research record.

• Each semester. The list of speakers can be found at:

   http://www.eb.tuebingen.mpg.de/seminars-courses

• Every Wednesday at 18.00 hours

• 1 SWS

• Place: Lecture Hall, Max Planck House, Spemannstrasse 36

• No registration required
  

4) Schwerpunktspraktikum "RNA Biology I"

4) Schwerpunktspraktikum “RNA Biology II”

Description: The practical unit will provide students with hands-on experience in a variety of techniques commonly used in studying RNA. These include RNA isolation from cultured cells, Northern blot analysis, in vitro RNA synthesis and purification, RNA-protein interactions.

• Organization : Elisa Izaurralde, Oliver Weichenrieder and collaborators
• Duration: One week
• 2 SWS
• Summer Semester: May 23 – 27, 2011
• Place: Max-Planck Institute for Developmental Biology
• Registration of students (maximun 8 students): elisa.izaurralde[AT]tuebingen[DOT]mpg[DOT]de
  
  

5) Schwerpunktspraktikum “Gene regulation in model organisms”

Description: The practical classes are designed to provide experience in major experimental techniques that are in current use in cell and developmental biology. These include RNA extraction, reverse transcription, PCR, cloning, DNA sequencing, non-radioactive labeling of RNA, in situ hybridization and basic imaging techniques.

• Organization: Markus Schmid, Dmitri Ivanov, Uwe Irion, Wolfram Antonin
  

• Summer semester: February 28 – March 11, 2011

• Duration: Two weeks

• 6 SWS

• Place: Max-Planck Institute for Developmental Biology

• Registration of students (maximun 12 students): markus.schmid[AT]tuebingen[DOT]mpg[DOT]de
  

6) Schwerpunktspraktikum “Imaging techniques”

Description: The practical classes are designed to provide experience in major imaging techniques, including tissue processing for light microscopy, sectioning and staining, immunohistochemistry, fluorescence microscopy, phase contrast microscopy, confocal microscopy and live cell imaging. 

• Organization: Silke Hauf, Gaspar Jékely, Andrew Renault, Matthias Flötenmeyer
• Summer semester: 25 – 29 July, 2011
  
• One week
• 2 SWS
• Registration deadline: June 30
  
• Place: Max-Planck Institute for Developmental Biology and Friedrich-Miescher Laboratory
• Registration of students (maximun 8 students): silke.hauf[AT]tuebingen[DOT]mpg[DOT]de
• At the conclusion of the course students should be able to:
  
  • Appreciate the range of imaging techniques available and their advantages/limitations and be able to select the imaging technique appropriate for their application.
  • Be able to fix and stain cells/embryos and prepare them for imaging.
  • Have a practical knowledge of the workings of a light microscope and be able to adjust a microscope for brightfield, fluorescence, phase contrast and DIC imaging.
  • Have a practical knowledge of the workings of an electron microscope, be able to use an electron microscope to produce electron micrographs and be capable to interpret them.
  • Have a practical knowledge of the workings of a confocal microscope and be able to use confocal microscopy to discriminate fluorophores, make time- and Z-series.
  • Appreciate the range of agents that can be used to induce contrast and label cells.
  • Appreciate factors that affect the imaging of live specimens.
  • Understand how raw image data may be processed without compromising data integrity.