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Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Biology — Developmental Biology

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Offered by: Biology     Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Program Requirements

Thesis

A thesis for the doctoral degree must constitute original scholarship and must be a distinct contribution to knowledge. It must show familiarity with previous work in the field and must demonstrate ability to plan and carry out research, organize results, and defend the approach and conclusions in a scholarly manner. The research presented must meet current standards of the discipline; as well, the thesis must clearly demonstrate how the research advances knowledge in the field. Finally, the thesis must be written in compliance with norms for academic and scholarly expression and for publication in the public domain.

Required Courses (12 credits)

  • BIOL 520 Gene Activity in Development (3 credits)

    Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)

    Overview

    Biology (Sci) : An analysis of the role and regulation of gene expression in several models of eukaryotic development. The emphasis will be on critical evaluation of recent literature concerned with molecular or genetic approaches to the problems of cellular differentiation and determination. Recent research reports will be discussed in conferences and analyzed in written critiques.

    Terms: Winter 2013

    Instructors: Roy, Richard D W (Winter)

    • Winter

    • 3 hours lecture and discussion

    • Prerequisites: BIOL 300 and BIOL 303 or permission

  • BIOL 532 Developmental Neurobiology Seminar (3 credits)

    Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)

    Overview

    Biology (Sci) : Discussions of all aspects of nervous system development including pattern formation, cell lineage, pathfinding and targeting by growing axons, and neural regeneration. The basis for these discussions will be recent research papers and other assigned readings.

    Terms: Winter 2013

    Instructors: Van Meyel, Donald; Kania, Artur; Fournier, Alyson Elise (Winter)

    • Winter

    • 1 hour lecture, 2 hours seminar

    • Prerequisites: BIOL 303 or BIOL 306 or permission of instructor

  • BIOL 700 Doctoral Qualifying Examination

    Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Biology (Sci) : The oral Qualifying Examination is a formal evaluation of the candidate's ability to proceed to the attainment of the Ph.D. Candidates must submit a thesis proposal in advance of the exam.

    Terms: Fall 2012, Winter 2013

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2012-2013 academic year.

  • BIOL 702 Ph.D. Seminar (6 credits)

    Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Biology (Sci) : Doctoral candidates are required to give a public oral presentation of their major results before submitting a thesis.

    Terms: Fall 2012, Winter 2013

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2012-2013 academic year.

Complementary Course (3 credits)

One course chosen from the following:

  • BIOL 544 Genetic Basis of Life Span (3 credits)

    Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)

    Overview

    Biology (Sci) : The course will consider how gene action is determining the duration of life in various organisms focusing on the strengths and limitations of the genetic approach. The course will focus particularly on model organisms such as yeast, Caenorhabditis, Drosophila and mouse, as well as on the characterization of long-lived people.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2012-2013 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2012-2013 academic year.

  • BIOL 569 Developmental Evolution (3 credits)

    Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)

    Overview

    Biology (Sci) : The influence of developmental mechanisms on evolution. This course draws on recent examples from plants and invertebrate and vertebrate animals. Topics include homology, modularity, dissociation, co-option, evolutionary novelty, evolution of cis-regulation and gene regulatory networks, developmental constraint and evolvability, heterochrony, phenotypic plasticity, and canalization.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2012-2013 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2012-2013 academic year.

    • Winter

    • 3 hours lecture

    • Prerequisites: BIOL 303 and BIOL 304; or permission of instructor.

  • BIOL 592 Integrated Bioinformatics (3 credits)

    Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)

    Overview

    Biology (Sci) : 'Post-genomic' bioinformatics. Concepts behind large-scale computational analysis and comparison of genomes/proteomes (and beyond), and the implications for our understanding of the basic processes of molecular and cell biology and the evolution of those processes.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2012-2013 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2012-2013 academic year.

    • Fall

    • 3 hours lecture

    • Prerequisite: BIOL 301 or permission of instructor.

    • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken or are taking BINF 511.

  • EXMD 607 Molecular Control of Cell Growth (3 credits)

    Offered by: Medicine (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Experimental Medicine : A course for graduate students in Experimental Medicine, Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology and Physiology, dealing with molecular control in normal and malignant cell growth, including cell cycle and physiological controls (nutritional and hormonal), mammalian DNA replication, viral effects on host cell growth for DNA and Ï㽶ÊÓƵ-tumour viruses and oncogenes, and tissue and organ growth-renewal mechanisms.

    Terms: Winter 2013

    Instructors: Yang, Xiang-Jiao; Tremblay, Michel (Winter)

  • EXMD 608 Molecular Embryology (3 credits)

    Offered by: Medicine (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Experimental Medicine : Modern molecular approaches in animal embryogenesis, with emphasis on embryonic patterning, organogenesis, and cell-cell communication.

    Terms: Fall 2012

    Instructors: Bouchard, Maxime (Fall)

    • Prerequisite: Students must come with a solid background in molecular biology.

    • Offered in conjunction with the Department of Oncology

  • HGEN 692 Human Genetics (3 credits)

    Offered by: Human Genetics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Human Genetics : This course will emphasize the principles and practice of human genetics, including an overview of the fundamental aspects of human genetics pertaining to chromosomes and mutations, population, cancer and development genetics, the inheritance of complex traits.

    Terms: Fall 2012

    Instructors: Ryan, Aimee; Duncan, Alessandra M V; Naoumova, Anna (Fall)

    • Restriction: For Department of Human Genetics graduate students.

  • NEUR 605 Neuroscience Seminar 4 (3 credits)

    Offered by: Neurology and Neurosurgery (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Neurology and Neurosurgery : This course focuses on neuronal development and maturation from a molecular aspect. We introduce various model organisms and systems that are used to study molecular aspects of development, explore their particular advantages and explore the cellular and molecular events that contribute to the development of the nervous system.

    Terms: Winter 2013

    Instructors: Stifani, Stefano (Winter)

    • Winter

    • Offered alternate years - odd numbered years

or another graduate course at the 500, 600, or 700 level chosen in consultation with the student's supervisor.
Additional courses may be required if the student's background is deemed insufficient.

Faculty of Science—2012-2013 (last updated Dec. 20, 2012) (disclaimer)
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