Autumn 2022 introduced the new course, UChicago Embryology at MBL.
The UChicago Embryology Course (DVBI 35800) is a newly-developed intensive residential research course at the Marine Biological Laboratory in beautiful Woods Hole, MA. In this two-week lab-based course, students gain exposure to a combination of well-established and emerging developmental model systems.
Through this experience, students develop advanced experimental skills—many of which are transferable across organisms—in the handling and cellular/genetic manipulation of embryos, including CRISPR/Cas mutagenesis, microinjection, lineage tracing, microdissection, in situ hybridization, and 3D in vivo imaging.
Students also develop an enhanced appreciation of the advantages each different species provides, learn to think more comparatively / in a phylogenetic context, and learn how to select the most appropriate species to address specific questions. They learn about classic, recent, and developing methodologies and techniques, and evening lectures share exciting research using these approaches. As students become more effective and critical readers of the broad developmental literature, they also develop and complete a short independent or team-based research project that enhances skills in hypothesis generation and experimental design.