Evolutionary Developmental Biology
-Deep Origins of the Vertebrate Body Plan -
Course number : 01:447:470, Spring semester
Course Description : Evolutionary origins of the vertebrate body plan are major problems in biology. While paleontology and comparative anatomy have revealed the evolutionary trajectories of each body part, embryology is becoming a powerful tool to answer the underlying mechanisms. The goal of this course is providing fundamental knowledge of comparative anatomy, developmental biology, and genomics, which should be meticulously integrated to answer evolutionary questions. The recent contribution of state-of-the-art genomics into evolutionary developmental biology will be particularly highlighted throughout the course. The training to discover and answer scientific questions in organismal diversity will be performed at the American Museum of Natural History. Any questions should be directed to Tetsuya Nakamura <nakamura@dls.rutgers.edu>.