Developmental Biology MSc

Overview

Developmental biology is aimed at understanding how a fertilised egg gives rise to a complex multicellular organism. The Developmental Biology MSc will give a thorough training in this subject area with opportunities to undertake research placements in the labs of leading researchers working on a range of model organisms and diverse areas of developmental biology.

Some of the major areas of research undertaken at The University of Manchester are as follows:

Studies of gene expression and cell signalling in model organisms, such as Drosophila, Xenopus, and mouse are illuminating the mechanisms by which different cell types and tissues arise during development. Findings obtained from these studies serve as general principles relating to human development.
The ways in which misregulation of developmental mechanisms leads to human diseases, e.g. cancer, are being explored using various models.
The mechanisms regulating stem cell maintenance and differentiation are being investigated, in order to harness the therapeutic potential of stem cells.
The healing process is being studied to improve wound repair and in the longer term regeneration of organs.

This is a research focused Masters course, you will spend the majority of your time working on two original research projects. We do not teach Developmental Biology using a traditional lecture-based format; instead we use an interactive approach where you learn through seminars, workshops, small group tutorials and during your research placements.

Careers

MSc graduates acquire a vast array of subject specific and transferable skills and gain extensive laboratory research experience. Your experiences of group based activities and presentations will be valuable in scientific and non-scientific careers. Your general scientific training will provide you with invaluable skills for a career in academic research, further study (e.g. PhD) or in industrial research.