Developmental Biology 1 (2025) Syllabus
発生生物学 1 (2025) シラバス




Course description:
Various developmental events, such as cell fate determination, cell differentiation, morphogenesis and animal behavior will be analyzed in light of gene expression, cell-cell interaction, intracellular signaling and evolution. Classes will be run by critical reading of the primary literature and discussion.

科目の概要:
細胞運命決定、細胞分化、形態形成や個体の行動制御等の個体発生の様々な現象を、遺伝子発現調節、細胞間相互作用、細胞内情報伝達等の分子機構や進化の視点から議論し、論文講読とディスカッションを通した演習を行う。(講義)

Course purpose:
Development can be viewed as an integral of molecular and cell biological events, and also is a process though which evolutionary changes in form is generated. Through discussing how the principles and concepts of developmental biology developed and what kind of new challenges they generate, students are expected to nurture their framework in which they conduct their own work in various disciplines.

科目の目的:
発生現象は分子細胞学的現象が「積分」されたものと捉えることができます。また、発生過程は形態の進化的変化が表れる場所でもあります。この授業では、発生生物学の様々な原理や概念がどのようにして生まれ、どのような新たな問題を生み出すかを議論することを通じ、各自が自分の分野での研究の枠組みを作るのに役立ててもらうことを目指しています。

Contents:
This course will introduce basic principles and concepts of that direct developmental phenomena. Various developmental events, such as cell fate determination, cell differentiation, morphogenesis and animal behavior will be analyzed in light of gene expression, cell-cell interaction, intracellular signaling and evolution. Classes will be run by critical reading of the primary literature and discussion. Please download the paper from links below and take a look at it in advance. It is not necessary to have completely understood the paper before coming to class. This course will be conducted in English. For questions and comments in Japanese, lecturers will provide simultaneous translation service to English.

授業内容:
この授業では個体発生を可能にする様々な基本原理や概念をとりあげます。細胞運命決定、細胞分化、形態変化、行動等のイベントについて、遺伝子発現、細胞間相互作用、シグナル伝達や進化等の観点から分析します。この授業は「原著論文を読んで議論する」という形式で行います。前もって指定された論文をダウンロードし、目を通しておいてください。完全に理解する必要はありません。この授業は英語で行いますが、日本語での質問やコメントに対しては講師が同時通訳サービスを提供します。

Time: 15:30 - 17:10 on Wednesday 水曜15:30-17:10

Place: National Institute of Genetics, B301 (Library 3rd Floor Seminar Room) or B202 (Library 2nd Floor Seminar Room)
遺伝研B301(図書館3階)、またはB202(図書館2階)
People in other programs/institutions can participate in this class through the remote lecture (Zoom).
他コースの方は遠隔講義(Zoom)で受講できます.

Cource organizer: SAWA Hitoshi 澤 斉 Participating faculty 担当教員リスト
Schedule:

Date Lecturers Topic and paper
2025/11/ 5
SATO Yutaka
佐藤 豊
Co-option of pre-existing genetic programs in (plant) development
2025/11/12
YAMAGUCHI Kosuke
山口 幸佑
Waddington’s landscape model
2025/11/19
SAGA Yumiko
相賀 裕美子
Neural crest
2025/11/26
KONDO Shigeru
近藤 滋
Physical laws determining the shape of organisms
2025/12/10
NEGISHI Takefumi
根岸 剛文

Cellular and molecular mechanism of gastrulation

2025/12/17 FUKUSHIMA Kenji 
福島 健児
Genetic assimilation
2025/12/24
MATSUMOTO Naoyuki
松本 直之

The evolutionary expansion of progenitor cells in human brain

2026/ 1/14
YONEHARA Keisuke
米原 圭祐
Role of sensory input in brain development

The reading list and the course schedule is tentative and is subject to change.
使用する論文は変更される可能性があります.
Appropriate grade level and Eligible Programs: (x) 1, (x) 2, (x) 3, (x) 4, (x) 5:
(x) All Programs

Pre-requisites: Familiarity with basic concepts of Molecular and Cell Biology is recommended.
This course will be conducted in English. For questions and comments in Japanese, lecturers will provide simultaneous translation service to English.

履修条件:分子細胞生物学の基礎的知識があるとより楽しめるでしょう。
その他:この授業は英語で行いますが、日本語での質問やコメントに対しては講師が同時通訳サービスを提供します。

Grades:
To obtain credit one must attend five or more classes (of total of eight classes). Grades (A, B, C, D) will be determined based on the activity of discussion with lecturer and other students.
単位取得には 8セッションのうち 5つ以上に出席する必要があります.成績(A,B,C,D)は講師や他の学生との議論への参加の程度によって判定します.

Notes:
Developmental Biology 1, 2 is a discussion-based course involving critical reading of the primary literature. One of the two courses (Developmental Biology 1 or 2) will be offered every other year, with no overlap in the material used. Taking any one of the two courses will likely give you an idea what development is about. If you wish to specialize in the field of Developmental Biology, we recommend taking all two courses.
発生生物学1, 2は原著論文をネタに議論する形式で行います.隔年で2つの科目のどれか(発生生物学1または2)が開講され,これら2科目での使用論文の重複はありません.どの科目を履修しても発生生物学の「味見」はできるでしょう.自分で発生研究を志しているなら2科目全てを聞いてみることをお勧めします.

Reading lists for the previous years: 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006

 

Other courses in developmental biology

Developmental Biology I (e-learning course, in Japanese)

Developmental Biology (offered in the Department of Basic Biology)

Reproductive Biology (offered in the Department of Basic Biology)



Participating faculty:

name e-mail
SATO Yutaka
佐藤 豊

yusato@nig.ac.jp

YAMAGUCHI Kosuke
山口 幸佑

kyamaguchi@nig.ac.jp

SAGA Yumiko
相賀 裕美子
ysaga@nig.ac.jp
KONDO Shigeru
近藤 滋

shigerukondo@nig.ac.jp

NEGISHI Takefumi
根岸 剛文

negishi@nig.ac.jp

FUKUSHIMA Kenji 
福島 健児

kenji.fukushima@nig.ac.jp

MATSUMOTO Naoyuki
松本 直之

naoyuki.matsumoto@nig.ac.jp

YONEHARA Keisuke
米原 圭祐

keisuke.yonehara@nig.ac.jp

 


last updated 250321