Xine volume 3, supplement 4

Dear Colleagues,

This is one of an occasional series of supplements to the regular edition of Xine. The following is a reminder about the upcoming Cold Spring Harbor Xenopus course.

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Course - Cell & Developmental Biology of Cell & Developmental Biology of Xenopus

April 16 - 26, 2004
Application deadline: January 15, 2004

Instructors:
Ken Cho, University of California, Irvine
Jan Christian, Oregon Health Sciences University


The frog Xenopus is an important vertebrate model for studies of maternal factors, regulation and molecular mechanisms of tissue inductions and regulation of cell fate decisions. In addition, Xenopus oocytes and embryos provide a powerful system in which to conduct a number of cell biological and gene regulation assays. This course will provide extensive laboratory exposure to the biology, manipulation and use of oocytes and embryos of Xenopus.

The course consists of intensive laboratory sessions, supplemented by daily lectures and demonstrations from experts in cellular, experimental and molecular development. Areas to be covered include: (i) care of adults; (ii) oocyte isolation and embryo production; (iii) stages of embryonic development and anatomy; (iv) whole mount in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry; (v) microinjection of eggs and oocytes with lineage tracers, DNA constructs, mRNA and antisense oligonucleotides; (vi) micromanipulation of embryos, including explant and transplantation assays; (vii) in vivo time lapse confocal imaging; (viii) preparation of transgenic embryos; and (ix) use of Xenopus tropicalis for genetic analyses. This course is suited both for investigators who have had no experience with Xenopus, as well as those who have worked with Xenopus and wish to learn new and cutting edge techniques. All applicants should have current training in molecular biology and some knowledge of developmental biology.

Lecturers in the 2004 will include: Enrique Amaya, John Gurdon, Janet Heasman, Ray Keller, Paul Mead, Mark Mercola and Christof Niehrs.

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Until next time.
Bruce