Course Description
Structure and function of plant cells, their membranes, cell walls, organelles and tissues; energy transduction and signalling mechanisms; regulation of gene expression in response to the environment, tissue interactions, hormones and during development; developmental programs and their controls during flowering, gametogenesis, fertilization, embryogenesis, seed germination, and morphogenesis.
Athena Title
Plant Cell and Develop Biology
Prerequisite
BCMB(BIOL)(CHEM) 3100 or BCMB 4010/6010 or BCMB 4020/6020
Pre or Corequisite
GENE(BIOL) 3200 or PGEN 3580
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
A comprehensive survey of mechanisms of plant cell function and how plants develop and respond to their environments. Plants are of central importance for earth's biosphere as a result of their unique bioenergetic capacities and reproductive strategies. This course emphasizes the underlying properties and activities of plant cells and the mechanisms that regulate growth and development. By the end of this course, students will: 1)understand the foundations of cellular and developmental processes that direct plant growth and reproductions; 2)understand modern scientific approaches that underlie current concepts in these fields; 3) recognize the importance of classical studies in cell and developmental plant biology; 4) become aware of outstanding problems that remain to be solved. Evaluation of these outcomes is through several written exams and graded class participation.
Topical Outline
The course syllabus is a general plan for the course; deviations announced to the class by the instructor may be necessary. Plant vs. animal cells Plant membrane systems Membrane transporters and channels Chloroplasts Plant mitochondria Vacuoles Glyoxysomes/Peroxisomes Cell wall biogenesis Secretory pathway Intracellular sorting pathways Cell cycle and mitosis Phytochrome, phototropin, cryptochrome Phytohormones: auxin signaling Phytohormones: cytokinin signaling Phytohormones: gibberellins Phytohormones: ethylene Phytohormones: abscisic adid Phytohormones: brassinosteriods Protein signaling Controls of flowering Gametogenesis Fertilization and compatibility Embryogenesis Root meristems and development Shoot meristems and development Development of vascular systems Plant defense system
Syllabus