Embryology is an old but fascinating subject. From the morphological
observation of chick embryo development to the unravel of the molecular
control of embryonic development in a variety of organisms, we have gone a
long way. However, the more we learn the less we know. It is a miracle to see
how a single cell develop into a fully functional adult. This course is design
to build the ground for students with interest in embryology. We will discuss
the basic principles and molecular controls of embryonic development. In
particular, we will emphasize the progression from immature gametes,
fertilization, cleavage to gastrulation (i.e. the formation of gut). The cell
fate and embryonic axis formation will also be included. The popular
experimental models used by current developmental biologist will also be
examined in detail.