Developmental Biology, Physiology and Nutrition

Overview

Key facts

Development of a multicellular organism starts from a one cell zygote which undergoes a phase of rapid cell divisions. This is followed by cell migration, cell-cell communication, and reorganization to form an organism with different cell types and organs which perform various physiological processes, nutrient uptake essential to its life processes.

University of Bergen's Developmental Biology, Physiology and Nutrition are at the core of understanding the evolutionary relationships between organisms and their abilities to adapt to different environments and ecological communities. Knowledge of normal development and physiological processes function is central to understanding how living animals function and are adapted to their living environment at the molecular, cellular, organ and individual level. Nutrition is central to understanding the need for nutrients through development and how hormones and metabolites regulate genes and proteins in the body to maintain growth and development. Such knowledge is important, for example, mapping and understanding of fish farming conditions and negative environmental effects (climate, pollution and disease).

The field of study is interdisciplinary and requires broad biological understanding, as well as knowledge in chemistry and molecular biology, including bioinformatics. In the study, one will connect insight into anatomical structure, cellular function, and physiology and nutrition, with knowledge of the structure of the genome's function and molecular mechanisms.