Basic concepts in developmental

biology
 Definition

Developmental biology is the field of biology

that studies the processes by which multicellular
organisms grow and develop, controlled by their
genes.
 What is developmental biology?
• It is the field of biology that studies the processes by
which multicellular organisms grow and develop,
controlled by their genes.
• It involves the study of mechanisms of development,
differentiation, and growth in animals and plants at the
molecular, cellular, genetic and evolutionary levels.
• It also encompasses the biology of regeneration,
asexual reproduction, metamorphosis, and the growth
and differentiation of stem cells in the adult organism.
• The study of development has become essential for
understanding any other area of biology.
 Significance
• It helps to explain how a variety of interacting processes
generate an organism’s heterogeneous shapes, size, and
structural features that arise on the trajectory from embryo
to adult, or more generally throughout a life cycle.
• It helps to understand the molecular, genetic, cellular, and
integrative aspects of building an organism.
• Knowledge of normal developmental processes can aid in
the understanding of developmental abnormalities and
other conditions such as cancer.
• Potential relevance of development for understanding
evolution and the theme of reductionism in genetic
explanations.
 Applications
• Developmental Biology enquires about
fertilization of an egg cell and its step-by-step
transformation into the fascinating complexity
of a whole organism which renders many
applications in different fields.
In Assisted reproductive technology
In Tissue engineering
In understanding factors influencing
development
 Embryology
• It is the study of the embryo and its
development from a single celled zygote to
the establishment of form and shape
• It is a subfield of developmental biology.
• Involves the study of the formation and early
development of living organisms.
• Involves the study of embryos and related
factors.
 Advances in embryology
STEM CELL PRESERVATION:
• Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent stem cells
derived from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst.
• Human embryos reach the blastocyst stage 4–5
days post fertilization, at which time they consist
of 50–150 cells.
• The stem cells can treat around 70 blood related
disorders and genetic disorders including
thalassemia, sickle cell anaemia, leukaemia, and
immune related disorders.
 Advances in embryology
ZIFT
• Zygote intrafallopian transfer is an infertility
treatment used when a blockage in the
fallopian- tubes prevents the normal binding
of sperm to the egg.
• Egg cells are removed from a woman's
ovaries,and in vitro- fertilised.
• The resulting zygote is placed into the
fallopian tube by the- laparoscopy.
 Advances in embryology
GIFT
• Gamete intrafallopian transfer is a tool of
assisted reproductive technology against
infertility.
• Eggs are removed from a woman's ovaries,
and placed in one of the fallopian tubes, along
with the man’s sperm.
 Advances in embryology
• IVF
• In vitro fertilization is the process of
fertilization by manually combining an egg and
sperm in a laboratory dish, and then
transferring the- embryo to the uterus.
 Advances in embryology
ICSI
• Intracytoplasmic sperm injection is an in vitro
fertilization procedure in which a single sperm
is injected directly into an egg.
• Defective sperm function remains the single
most important cause of human infertility.
 Advances in embryology
Surrogacy
• Surrogacy is an arrangement or agreement
where by a woman agrees to carry a
pregnancy for another person or persons, who
will become the new-born child's parent(s)
after birth.
 Advances in embryology
Three parents baby
• A three-parent baby was born in Mexico,
conceived using a controversial method.
• The reproductive technology was used in
order to prevent Leigh syndrome, a severe
neurological condition.