Stem Cells and Mammalian Development

By attending the course the student will achieve:

Knowledge:

• The molecular mechanisms of early developmental processes, including axis formation, gastrulation, and neural patterning.
• The core principles of transcriptional and signaling networks that establish cell identity and pattern in the mammalian embryo.
• The defining characteristics of pluripotency, the different states of pluripotent stem cells, and their molecular regulation.
• The principles and methodologies behind generating stem cells, including iPSC reprogramming and the derivation of lineage-specific stem cells.
• The potential and current limitations of using stem cells to model mammalian development and for regenerative applications.
• An understanding of the relationship of pluripotency to the germ line and original totipotent cell.

Skills:

• Describe and explain the key molecular mechanisms (signaling, transcriptional regulation, chromatin states) that control cell fate decisions in the early embryo.
• Compare and contrast the process of gastrulation and germ layer specification across model systems, highlighting conserved and divergent mechanisms.
• Detail the pathways involved in neural induction and the patterning of the neural tube along its anterior-posterior and dorsal-ventral axes.
• Explain the unique features of preimplantation mammalian development, including the formation of extra-embryonic tissues.
• Define the hallmarks of pluripotency and critically evaluate the differences between naïve and primed pluripotent states.
• Describe the process of somatic cell reprogramming to generate iPSCs and discuss the factors influencing reprogramming efficiency.
• Outline the development of the germ line and strategies for its differentiation from pluripotent stem cells in vitro.
• Critically evaluate scientific literature in the fields of mammalian development and stem cell biology.

Competences:

The student will be competent to integrate complex knowledge of developmental mechanisms with stem cell biology, enabling them to understand and critically discuss current research and ethical considerations in regenerative medicine and developmental modelling.