Plant Biology and Biotechnology, 15 Credits

Contents

This course provides a deepening of the subject in areas of plant physiology and plant cell biology and provides a basic knowledge of plant molecular biology and plant biotechnology.

The course deals with life processes of plants: those include, among others, germination, growth, anatomy and differentiation, metabolism, photosynthesis, stress physiology, flowering, etc. Plant-specific features (e.g. three genomes, photosynthesis, cell wall synthesis, natural products, hormonal regulation) are emphasized, along with introduction to comprehensive plant model systems. The course provides also an introduction to molecular techniques used in plant biotechnology, in vitro plant culture and manipulation, tissue-specific expression, use of computer databases, and more. The course integrates different levels of organization from molecular to ecosystem function such as biotic interactions, herbivory and plant chemistry and the balance between growth and defense, up to the level of how to use plants as detectors.

The 15 points are divided into: 10.5 points theory part; 1.5 points for laboratories and 3 points for a chosen theme written work in a subject in the content of the course.

Expected learning outcomes

After completing the course the students should be able to:
- Describe the plant growth and adaptation enabling a plant to handle a variety of habitats.
- Account for plants life cycle from seed germination, growth, assimilation of mineral nutrition, transport mechanisms to blooming.
- Account for photosynthesis, its genes and the structure, cellular mechanisms and how photosynthesis is regulated by biotic and abiotic factors.
- Describe the risks and opportunities with transgenic plants (GMO).
- Perform good laboratory practices in plant biology and sterile in vitro plant culture.
- Briefly describe the plant cell structure and function, including growth, differentiation and death, and how these processes are regulated. The focus is on the cell wall, its synthesis and yield growth, and how newly synthesized proteins are sorted to different parts of the cell.
- Briefly describe how molecular techniques can be used to study how plants work.
- Perform laboratory work and summarize the scientific papers in the plant physiology and plant molecular field.
- Be able to evaluate the general information on plant physiology and molecular biology.

Required Knowledge

30 ECTS grade Biology of which 7,5 ECTS grade in Plant Physiologi and Cell Biology. Proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary course English A (IELTS (Academic) with a minimum overall score of 5.5 and no individual score below 5.0. TOEFL PBT (Paper-based Test) with a minimum total score of 530 and a minimum TWE score of 4. TOEFL iBT (Internet-based Test) with a minimum total score of 72 and a minimum score of 17 on the Writing Section). Where the language of instruction is Swedish, applicants must prove proficiency in Swedish to the level required for basic eligibility for higher studies.

Form of instruction

The course includes lectures, group work, individual work, group discussions and laboratory exercises.

Examination modes

The course ends with a written examination. In order to pass the course are also required to participate in group discussions and laboratory exercises and submitted to talk records, laboratory reports and thematic task approved. You must have actively participated in group projects and carrying them, verbally and in writing. Rating given will be fail, pass and pass with distinction. Students who have failed, have the right to retake the test to pass. Furthermore, students who twice failed an examination for the course or part of the course, have the right to ask the head of department of Plant Physiology to have another teacher appointed, unless there are special reasons against it (HEO Chapter 6. § 22). Students who have passed an examination may not retake the examination to a higher grade.