Catalog Data and Goals

The lecture course is a study of human embryology with emphasis on the fundamental developmental processes shared by vertebrate embryos. Topics include gametogenesis, fertilization, and development of the embryo from zygote through the differentiation of the neural tube. The second half of the course is devoted to the development of selected human organ systems including the nervous system, sense organs, and the cardiovascular, digestive, respiratory, and urogenital systems.

The required laboratory complements the lecture material with a comparison of frog, chick, and pig embryos. Histological, preserved, and selected living materials are studied to illustrate gametogenesis, fertilization, and development of the vertebrate embryo from zygote through the differentiation of organ systems in amphibian, avian and mammalian embryos.

• Lecture: 3 credits. Mon., Wed., and Fri. 9:00-9:50.
• Lab: 1 credit. Tuesday and Thursday in S216; Lab Sec. A 9:30-10:55 am and Lab Sec. B 11:00 am-12:25 pm
• Lecture and Lab are co-requisites and must be taken concurrently.
• Embryology is a Group I Biology Elective. The course is offered only during the fall semester.

BIOL 211 is recommended for biology majors and other students interested in human anatomy. BIOL 211 is especially recommended for students planning post-graduate work in the health professions (e.g., pre-medical students) as well as for students interested in zoology and veterinary medicine. Embryology should be taken first semester of the sophomore year.

• Continuing students who do not pre-register for BIOL 211 and lab cannot be guaranteed a seat in the course! Students must pre-register for both the lecture and the lab.

Textbooks and
References

Prerequisites by Topic

The prerequisite year of college biology should include an introduction to the evolution, cell biology, anatomy, physiology, genetics, and development of vertebrates. The prerequisite course should also include the use of compound and dissecting microscopes, identification of animal tissues and organs from microscope slides or photomicrographs, interpreting detailed diagrams of vertebrate anatomy, and dissection of a representative vertebrate.

Prerequisites

BIOL 111 and 112 (Principles of Biology I and II and their labs).

• Students who have not achieved grades of "C" or better in each of the prerequisite courses should repeat the necessary courses before attempting further course work in biology. Students who have not achieved grades of "C" or better in each of the prerequisite courses may not enroll in this course without the permission of the professor or Biology Department Chair.
• Completion of BIOL 211 and lab with grades of "C" or better is a recommended prerequisite for BIOL 212 (Comparative Anatomy) offered Spring semester.

Professor and
Course Coordinator

Dr. Anna E. Ross, Associate Professor of Biology.

• Home page: http://www.cbu.edu/~aross
• Office: Science Building Room 203G
  Office Phone: 321-3436
  Email: aross@cbu.edu
• Fall Semester Office hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday 2:00-4:30. Additional times by appointment.

Schedule for the Lecture Course

Meeting #

Topic

Text Chapter

1
2-3
4
5
6
7
8

Embryology: Terms
Embryology: History & Concepts
Spermatogenesis
Oogenesis ~[Q1]
Meiosis ~[Q2]
Reproductive Cycles
LECTURE EXAM 1 (Chs. 1 and 2 in part)

1
1-2
2
2
2
2

9
10-11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18

Fertilization & Cleavage
Blastulation & Gastrulation
Gastrulation & Germ Layers
Germ Layer Formation ~[Q3]
Implantation
Fetal Membranes, Placenta [Q4]
Review of Chs. 3, 4, 5, and 7
Nervous System
LECTURE EXAM 2 (Chs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 18 in part, reading assignment)

2
2-3
4-5
4-5
3-4
7
3, 4, 5, & 7
18

19-25
26
27
28

Nervous System [Q5]
N.S. & Sense Organs: Eye [Q6]
Sense Organs: Eye
LECTURE EXAM 3 (Chs. 18 and 19, in part)

18
18-19
19

29
30
31-34
35
36

Sense Organs: Eye & Ear
Integumentary System
Circulatory System [Q7]
Digestive System
LECTURE EXAM 4 (Chs. 19, 20, and 14)

19
20
14
12

37
38
39
40
41
42

Digestive System
Respiratory System
Coelom and Mesenteries
Branchial Arches
Urogenital System
LECTURE EXAM 5 (Chs. 12, 11, 9, 10, and 13)

12
11
9
10
13

Exam week

FINAL LECTURE EXAM (100 points)
[Comprehensive, objective format]

Schedule for the Lab Course

Meeting #

Activities

1

Microscope use; Reproductive Anatomy; Meiosis; WWW Meiosis tutorial.

2

Suppl. Ex. 1 Grasshopper testis
Reproductive Anatomy; Meiosis; worksheet; WWW Meiosis

3

Spermatogenesis: Suppl. Ex. 1 Grasshopper testis; WWW Meiosis

4

Spermatogenesis: Suppl. Ex. 2 Frog, Rat, Human; WWW Spermatogenesis. (Repr/Dev Worksheet due)

5

Oogenesis: Suppl. Ex. 3 Cat ovary (Anat Worksheet due) WWW Oogenesis

6

Meiosis and Fertilization: Suppl. Ex. 4 Ascaris

7

Cleavage: Suppl. Ex. 5 Starfish; Schoenwolf Lab manual Ch. 5 Urchin

8

Frog: Early embryo Schoenwolf Lab manual Ch. 2, A-E [Live frog embryos: as available meetings 8-14]

9

Frog: Early embryo Schoenwolf Lab manual Ch. 2, A-E

10

LAB EXAM 1

11

Frog: 4 mm., serial c.s., rep. sag. sec. Lab manual Ch. 2, F-H

12-13

Frog: 4 mm., serial c.s. [Also live frog embryos]

14

LAB EXAM 2

15

Chick: 33-hr. w.m. Schoenwolf Lab manual Ch. 3 A-B, J

16

Chick: 33-hr. c.s., 18 & 24-hr. w.m. Lab manual Ch. 3 B, F-K

17

Chick: 24-hr. w.m., 24-hr. c.s. Schoenwolf Lab manual Ch. 3

18

LAB EXAM 3

19

48-hour Chick. Live chick embryos, various ages.

20-22

48-hr. Chick Lab Manual Ch. 3 L

23

LAB EXAM 4

24

Pig, 10 mm., embryo and uterus dissection, w.m., sag. sec.; Lab manual Ch. 4 A-E

25-29

Pig, 10 mm. Lab manual Ch. 4

Exam week

LAB EXAM 5

Resources

• Dr. Ross's Embryology Course Web Site [restricted to CBU domain] lists resources for each course unit. These resources include illustrated lecture notes, color photos of human embryos, annotated photomicrographs for lab study, links to WWW resources, and links to the PowerPoint lecture slides.
  http://www3.cbu.edu/~aross/embhome.htm
• Course related resources are maintained in S216 for student to use outside of class and lab. The room is available to students during posted daytime hours and additionally during early evening hours by arrangement with Dr. Ross. Informal study sessions are held in room S216 several times a week. Successful students spend at least two hours a week working in S216 in addition to the scheduled class and lab sessions. (The current room S216 schedule is posted at Dr. Ross's home page and at the Embryology Course Web Site.) Materials available for student use in room S216 include:
• Embryology 35mm photomicrographs in slide carousels
• Three 35mm Slide viewer/projectors
• CD-ROM's for study of the embryology lab material, human anatomy, and human histology
• Computers with internet connection.
• Microscopes and microscope slides.
• Embryology models, charts, and reference books.

The course has been structured to afford you every opportunity to master the required material and to demonstrate your success in that endeavor. Students who enroll in this course are seeking rigorous pre-professional preparation. Nevertheless, you need not feel intimidated by the demanding career path you have selected. Dr. Ross is available a minimum of 10 hours per week outside of class and lab to help you overcome any difficulties you may have with the course material and to help you do your best work.

Attendance

Lecture and lab attendance are both required. Arriving late for class or lab is rude; tardiness will not be tolerated. Laboratory sessions will require the entire scheduled period. You will be responsible for cleaning up before you leave lab. Therefore, do not expect to be out of lab before the scheduled time. Attendance at exams and quizzes is required.
If you miss lecture or lab for any reason, you are expected to inform the professor and you are responsible for making up the missed work immediately and on your own time (you must have the professor verify that you have made up any missed lab work). If you are ever absent, contact a classmate immediately because you will be held responsible for the material covered as well as for announcements of quizzes or changes in exam dates, etc. Unexcused absences will lower your grade (for example, you will receive a zero if you miss a quiz). In accordance with CBU policy, you will be withdrawn or fail a course for excessive absence.

Laboratory attendance is required. In a laboratory course, there is simply no substitute for "being there." Much of the benefit of the lab course is derived from your active participation during the scheduled lab meetings. You will learn more by working with your classmates doing the lab than can be assessed by any quiz or exam. In fact, your active participation in lab is so important that no quiz or exam scores could possibly be high enough to compensate for missing the actual experience of being present in the laboratory. Therefore, you must complete all of the labs to pass the course.

Exams and Grades

Your grade in the lecture and lab courses will be determined by your own achievement. There is no curve.
Grading scale: 90.0-100% = A, 80.0-89.9% = B, 70.0-79.9% = C, 60.0-69.9% = D, below 60.0% = F.

• Makeup lecture or lab exams will only be available under extraordinary circumstances.
  If you miss an exam without prior arrangement or fail to notify the professor within one hour of the scheduled exam time, you will not be eligible for a makeup exam and you will receive a zero for the missed exam. Ordinarily, a student will be granted no more than one makeup exam for the course. Ordinarily, there will be no makeup for a missed lecture or lab quiz. If you need special consideration, please ask.

• The complete Biol 211 course syllabus including all course policies can be found at Dr. Ross's Embryology Course Web Site [restricted to CBU domain].
• For more information about the Embryology course, contact Dr. Ross: aross@cbu.edu.