JDB1025H Developmental Biology

JDB1025H, a Ph.D.-level graduate course, is an in depth study of the principles of developmental biology. The course strives to uncover common principles that govern the development of different phyla, as well as highlighting the details that make species unique.

Registration Information

Students interested in participating in JDB1025H must register using ROSI. Please contact the Graduate Administrator of your department if you need assistance registering for the course on ROSI. 

Once you have completed registering for the course, please contact Cindy Todoroff to inform her that you have registered for this course.

Instructors

Dr. Brent Derry
Department of Molecular Genetics
PGCRL, Hospital for Sick Children
686 Bay Street
Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4
email: brent.derry@sickkids.ca

Dr. Ian Scott
Department of Molecular Genetics
PGCRL, Hospital for Sick Children
686 Bay Street
Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4
email: ian.scott@sickkids.ca

Time and Place

The Winter 2027 course will begin in February, 2027 (date, location and time TBA)

Eligible Students

Every PhD student in our Program must take JDB1025H in the 3rd, 4th, or 5th year of your PhD.  

No MSc students or auditors will be permitted, no exceptions.

The class limit is 12-14 students, so register early!

Mark Breakdown

Paper discussant (four days): 20%

Paper presenter (one day): 15%

Participation during paper presentations and discussions: 20%

Reviews of initial projects by other groups: 15%

Final group project: 20% (group mark)

Individual written summary of project: 10%

Class Participation

We expect students to read assigned literature and participate in the student-lead discussion. After each class, the instructors will evaluate each student's participation level and agree upon a mark accordingly.

After the sixth content lecture, the instructors will review each student's participation and contribution to the course. If students are not participating at the level we expect from graduate students, we will ask the student to withdraw from the course.

Discussion Leadership

Each presenter is expected to:

1. Present an introduction to the central biological problems of the topic of the day.

2. The presenter is highly encouraged to not only use the assigned literature, but to expand their knowledge of the subject matter through additional reading in order to explain the approaches to the problem and the major insights uncovered. The discussion leader is also encouraged to meet with the guest expert to make sure and ensure that they (the student) understands the major issues of the relevant topic. The leader must also address any pioneering techniques that facilitated insight.

3. The discussion leader must engage the rest of the class and draw out interpretations and thoughts from other students.

4. The discussion leader is encouraged to use the black board to illustrate principles, and power point to show figures, but to please minimize text on power point slides.

GrOUP PROJECT

Possible topics and formats will be discussed as a class.

• Topics should relate to major developmental biology concepts or research areas (possibilities include, but are not limited to: the study of human embryogenesis; cellular reprogramming to treat diseases; environmental impacts on development; synthetic developmental biology; etc.).

• A variety of formats are possible (including, but not limited to: animations; posters; videos; podcasts; interactive websites; research proposals; outreach proposals; etc.).

• Projects may involve, but are not limited to: explaining scientific foundations to a lay person; explaining current approaches and challenges to a lay person; explaining broader relevance; critique/debate of a current model; critiquing a current research article; interviewing an expert in field; ethical considerations; etc.

• Creativity is encouraged!

• Major emphasis on a concept or research area in developmental biology is expected.