A Practical Guide to Developmental Biology

Melissa Ann Gibbs

Wide variety of experimental organisms - allows students to see the differences and commonalities among animal & plant life. Students aren't limited to the study of the most popular organisms
Includes plant development - most manuals skip plants, but most textbooks include them. Students need to be exposed to the many interesting experiments and features of plant development.
Lots of illustrations - the manual can be used as a reference source. Illustrations ease interpretation of experimental manipulations.
Step by step experimental protocol presentation - clear-cut protocols, so the student doesn't have to search through paragraphs of text to find the protocol steps.

A Practical Guide to Developmental Biology

Melissa Ann Gibbs

Description

This lab manual is designed for upper level undergraduates or graduate students, to introduce them to the field of developmental biology. After spending two weeks learning how to handle and manipulate a variety of embryonic organisms, students will begin a series of experiments that more or less keep pace with the sequence of most developmental biology textbooks (axial patterning, plant cell totipotency, fertilization, early plant development, morphogenesis, cell adhesion, embryogenesis, gametogenesis, regeneration and metamorphosis. The manual is heavily illustrated and gives students a solid grounding in classic developmental biology as well as modern techniques in immunohistochemistry and homeobox gene expression. Appendices of recipes, needed chemicals, and sources for animals are included.

A Practical Guide to Developmental Biology

Melissa Ann Gibbs

Table of Contents
The Experiments
Introduction to Developmental Biology: Embryo Protocols, Ethics and Model Systems
Axial Patterning: Using Retinoic Acid to Disrupt Homeobox Gene Expression in Axolotls
Plant Cell Totipotency: Growing a Carrot from Adult Cells
Fertilization: Sea Urchin Syngamy & Development
Early Plant Development: Pollen Tube Formation
Morphogenesis: Creating Fate Maps of Albino Axolotls Using a Vital Dye
Cell Adhesion: Cell-Cell Interactions in Sponges & Amphibians
Embryogenesis: Chick & Amphibian Development (Slide-based)
Neurulation: Labelling Chick Notochord using Immunocytochemistry
Gametogenesis: Comparison of Plants and Animals
Regeneration: Morphallaxis & Epimorphosis
Metamorphosis: Drosphila Imaginal Discs
External Influences on Development: Design Your Own Experiment with Amphibians, Chicks or Fish
Information for the Instructor
Animal Care & Maintenance
Animal & Plant Sources
Chemical Sources
Slides Needed / Sources
Solutions & Other Materials
Glossary
Literature Cited

A Practical Guide to Developmental Biology

Melissa Ann Gibbs

Author Information

Melissa Ann Gibbs, Assistant Professor of Biology, Stetson University, Florida, USA

A Practical Guide to Developmental Biology

Melissa Ann Gibbs

Reviews and Awards

"All in all a clearly written laboratory aid that should prove highly useful to those involved in developmental biology." - Biologist (2004) 51 (3)

"Am I recommending it to collegues? Yes, because adpating the practicals described here is a good way to bring unfamiliar organisms into the classroom and can be used to let students explore points made in our own, different, courses. If you want to read about simple, tested developmental protocols for sponges, planaria, sea urchins, killfish, amphibians, chicks, beans and pondweed, this is a good place to start." - BioEssays 26: 1142