Developmental Biology
- Reference number
- A3 96:26
- Start and end dates
- 970101-061231
- Amount granted
- 38 000 000 SEK
- Administrative organization
- Göteborg University
- Research area
- Life Sciences
Summary
Developmental biology research is focused on the problem of how a fertilized egg develops into a complex, multicellular organism. Initial studies employed morphological methods to describe how cells grow, divide and migrate, how tissues and organs form and how the body attains its shape. The advent of molecular biology and modern genetics has brought a revolution to the study of developmental biology. It has become possible to study development at a molecular level, to define the genes governing the processes, and finally to experimentally block or modulate the activity of specific genes in the intact organism and hence to elucidate the function of the genes during development. This impressive progress has gone hand in hand with the mapping of the human genome and those of other organisms. Developmental biology will have an important impact on future medicine and on the pharmaceutical industry. Molecules that control cell proliferation and differentiation during development will represent potential drugs. The ability to generate different kinds of cells in vitro from precursor cells will provide the basis for cell replacement therapy, i.e. the transplantation of cells to restore normal function when cells have been destroyed by disease. Genes involved in the development of many diseases will be identified, and transgenic animals with these respective genes deleted or modified will be able to serve as disease models. By analysis of such animal models it will be feasible to follow the pathogenic process, to study various aspects of disease, and to devise new therapeutic strategies. Adaptation of the transgenic technology to larger mammals will also make it possible to produce drugs more efficiently (biofarming) and to obtain cells and tissues for transplantation (xenotransplantation). Present-day developmental biology is to a large extent performed using convenient model systems such as baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), the round worm (Caenorhabditis elegans), the zebrafish (Danjo rerio) and the mouse (Mus musculus). The lower organisms undergo their developmental programs very rapidly, they are simple enough for exhaustive biochemical and morphological analyses, and they can be analyzed by sophisticated genetic tools. Being a mammal, the mouse is the favored experimental model system for human development. Most of the fundamental developmental processes seem to be very similar throughout the animal kingdom, and therefore, it is a great advantage to study a specific process wherever optimal for analysis. In modern developmental biology it is essential to be able to make use of several model systems and to promptly switch from one to the other. The aim of the programme was to promote scientific excellence in developmental biology within Sweden. For research to be internationally competitive it is essential that it should be performed on several of the widely used model systems. It is evident that many of the crucial animal models are under-represented in Sweden or were not represented at all (e.g. Drosophila, Caenorhabditis and Xenopus). To implement these requirements mentioned above, SSF made it possible to create new interfaces between these areas by allocating 38 MSEK to a programme designed to promote the following 3 areas: 1) establishment of Transgenic Core Facilities (TCF) within the major Universities of Sweden 2) establishment of a network to support communication, technology transfer and other intellectual activities between the different core facilities. 3) recruitment of lab leaders for research groups devoted to non-mammalian model systems. The long-term goal of the program is to ensure that each major University in Sweden has a well -functioning TCF. Furthermore, through the establishment of whole research groups, it is envisaged that the acquired knowledge stays anchored because of established groups, which is clearly an advantage over the layout of other SSF programs which support research only for defined period. SSF has awarded a two year grant of SEK 0,25 M for national network activities with LU as host university (dnr A4 02/0302)