SubjectsSubjects(version: 978)
Course, academic year 2025/2026
   
Developmental Biology - a practical course - MB150C07
Title: Praktikum z vývojové biologie
Czech title: Praktikum z vývojové biologie
Guaranteed by: Department of Cell Biology (31-151)
Faculty: Faculty of Science
Actual: from 2021
Semester: summer
E-Credits: 2
Examination process: summer s.:
Hours per week, examination: summer s.:0/3, C [DS]
Capacity: 240
Min. number of students: unlimited
4EU+: no
Virtual mobility / capacity: no
State of the course: taught
Language: Czech
Note: enabled for web enrollment
Guarantor: doc. RNDr. Ing. Vladimír Krylov, Ph.D.
Teacher(s): doc. RNDr. Ing. Vladimír Krylov, Ph.D.
RNDr. Lenka Libusová, Ph.D.
Mgr. Marie Macůrková, Ph.D.
RNDr. Nataša Šebková, Ph.D.
RNDr. Tereza Tlapáková, Ph.D.
Mgr. Ing. Jiří Vávra
Co-requisite : MB150P11
Incompatibility : MB150C07E
Is incompatible with: MB150C07E
Annotation -
The practical course is taught in Czech language.
Last update: Krylov Vladimír, doc. RNDr. Ing., Ph.D. (23.02.2021)
Literature - Czech

Gilbert S.F: Developmental Biology. 10 vyd. a dřívější, Sunderland (MA): Sinauer Associates, části kapitol z 10. vyd. jsou dostupné na internetu: http://10e.devbio.com/contents.php?sub=1&art=1&full=1

Wolpert, L.: Principles of Development (2. vydání), Oxford University Press, 2002.

Krylov V. Determinace nebo regulace aneb Jak vytvořit tělo, Vesmír, 2015/2, ročník 94(145), str. 110-113.

Krylov V. Posviťte si na biologii, kapitola " Jak se staví tělo" , Nakladatelství P3K, 2014, str. 9-21 - Monografie není v prodeji. Pdf formát monografie je k dispozici na Moodle (dl2.cuni.cz) - předmět Vývojová biologie, sekce: Studijní materiál. Heslo pro vstup do kurzu: morphogen

Sládeček F.: Rozmnožování a vývoj živočichů, Academia Praha 1986

Last update: Krylov Vladimír, doc. RNDr. Ing., Ph.D. (22.04.2015)
Requirements to the exam -

The practical course is taught in Czech language.

Last update: Krylov Vladimír, doc. RNDr. Ing., Ph.D. (23.02.2021)
Syllabus -

The practical course is taught in Czech language.

Last update: Krylov Vladimír, doc. RNDr. Ing., Ph.D. (23.02.2021)
Learning outcomes -

At the end of the practical course, the student will be able to:

1.    Remember

  • List the basic stages of oogenesis in mammals (oogonial proliferation, oocyte growth, maturation) and describe in which meiotic stage the oocyte is before and after ovulation (GV, MI, MII), to the extent necessary for independent preparation of an image panel.
  • State the time intervals required to reach metaphase I (20–24 h) and metaphase II (42–48 h) during in vitro maturation of porcine oocytes and use them appropriately when planning laboratory cultures.
  • List the main components of the maturation‑promoting factor (MPF), i.e. CDK1 and cyclin B, and indicate the stages in which MPF activity is highest and lowest in the text part of the protocol.
  • List the three monitored Hox genes in Caenorhabditis elegans (mab-5, lin-39, egl-5) and assign to them the corresponding reporter lines provided in the practical course.

2.    Understand

  • Explain why a mammalian oocyte is arrested in metaphase II (second meiotic block) prior to fertilization and how sperm entry (Ca2+ oscillations) trigger completion of meiosis.
  • Orally describe the difference between the fast and slow block to polyspermy and justify why, in mammals, the cortical reaction predominates over the rapid change in membrane potential.
  • Interpret the basic morphological features of MI and MII stages of porcine oocytes (presence/absence of the polar body, chromosome arrangement) in the acquired images and label these features in the panel.
  • Describe in general terms the role of Hox genes in establishing the body axis and cell fates and explain how the organization and role of Hox genes in C. elegans differ from the typical segmented model.

3.    Apply

  • Practically perform the isolation of porcine oocytes from ovarian follicles using the aspiration method, work correctly under a stereomicroscope, and safely divide the collected oocytes into two groups (MI, MII).
  • Apply the basic principles of handling oocytes and culture media (M2, maturation medium) when setting up oocyte incubation (38.5°C, 5% CO2) so that oocyte viability is maintained for 24 and 42–48 hours for further use.
  • Independently prepare a sperm suspension for IVF: take a sample, determine sperm concentration using a Bürker chamber, calculate the required dilution, and prepare a working suspension at a concentration suitable for in vitro fertilization.
  • Perform staining of sperm (Hoechst 33258, Mitotracker Red) or oocytes (formaldehyde fixation) according to the given protocol, including correct centrifugation, washing, and sample handling, and document the results in a series of microscopic images.

4.    Analyze

  • Based on images and personal observations, distinguish and describe morphological differences among porcine oocytes at the GV, MI, and MII stages, including identification of the polar body and metaphase chromosomes, and systematically summarize these differences in the image panel.
  • Evaluate the course of IVF: identify cases of sperm–oocyte contact and early stages of fertilization in fluorescence images (position of the sperm head, mitochondria) and distinguish specific signals from possible staining artefacts or autofluorescence.
  • Analyze the spatial expression pattern of the lacZ reporter for individual Hox genes (mab-5, lin-39, egl-5) in C. elegans.
  • Compare the observed Hox gene expression with the expected domains derived from the literature or the introductory theoretical part of the practical course and discuss possible reasons for discrepancies (e.g. technical limitations of staining, developmental stage, variability among individuals).

5.    Create

  • Compile a clear image panel capturing key stages of oocyte maturation, the course of IVF, and Hox gene expression patterns in C. elegans, supplemented with brief captions that relate to theoretical concepts from developmental biology lectures.
  • Formulate one specific research question concerning the regulation of meiosis, blocks to polyspermy, or spatial expression of Hox genes in C. elegans.

6.    Evaluate

  • Critically evaluate their own laboratory work (oocyte isolation, staining, work with C. elegans).
  • Assess the quality of the obtained images and data (sharpness, contrast, reproducibility) and decide which data are sufficiently reliable and which must be designated as preliminary.
  • Evaluate the contribution of the individual model organisms (porcine oocyte, C. elegans) to the study of developmental processes.
Last update: Tlapáková Tereza, RNDr., Ph.D. (29.01.2026)
 
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