During the first year students attend a course consisting of a series of genetics, molecular and developmental biology lectures and/or discussions, and entitled:

Frontiers in Molecular Genetics
NCCR graduate course in Genetics and Development

This course meets the following characteristics.

• Attendance is mandatory.
• The course is given by the Project Leaders and the Platform Managers.
• Each of the faculty members formally interacts with the students on two occasions.
• Students receive a reading list or scientific publications before the session.
• During the second year, students are invited to participate in optional modules such as reading course, lectures, short courses, etc. This is however quite flexible.
• Depending on the teacher’s lab location the students may be asked to travel for the day to Geneva, Lausanne, Basel or Zurich to attend.
• The sessions are in English.
• The sessions take place from October until the summer of the following year, generally on Mondays.

	The course 2009-2010 is over.