BIO 450 Developmental Biology or Plant Propagation for Conservation Professionals

Developmental Biology:

An introduction to developmental biology that covers the processes by which a fertilized egg becomes an independently functional organism.  Basic principles including but not limited to regulation of gene expression, cellular differentiation, and positional patterning are introduced.  The specific development of five model organisms (Drosophila, Xenopus, zebra fish, chicken, and mouse) will be discussed.  An example of organogenesis, vertebrate limb development, will also be addressed.  When applicable, aspects of human development will be discussed.

Plant Propagation:

Collecting, identifying, propagating, and establishing native plants is vital for conservation efforts on public and private lands.  Special focus will include grasses, forbs, and woody plants. Some coverage of agronomic plants, including crop stages and consideration for cover crop timing and pairings will be explored. This class includes interactive activities in select techniques.