Biology 3350 Plant Physiology - Spring, 2009
Instructor:Tom Kursar542A ASB, 581-8369,
Lectures:M W F12:55-1:45 PMJTB 120
Textbook:L. Taiz, E. Zeiger. Plant Physiology, 4th Edition 2006.
Grading: The final grade, which will be on a curve, will be based on four exams (80%). The fourth (final) exam will be a one-hour exam during finals week. This will include: (i) 30% on the lectures after Exam 3, (ii) 10% on the student talks and (iii) 60% on the material in Exams 1, 2 and 3. 10% of the grade will be a paper. 10% of the grade will be a talk.
The exams will cover materials from the lectures and the assigned readings. Exams will include short essay, data analysis, multiple choice, and verbal and quantitative problem-solving questions. No calculators will be allowed in exams. Exams will be graded as quickly as possible and returned in class. Questions regarding grading will be considered only if received by the instructor within one week of the time that the exam was returned to you. The one-week limit also will apply to the final exam. Handouts as well as any exams not picked up in class will be available in Building 44. Exam keys will be posted on the course website.
Discussion and office hours: Discussion will be at the beginning of each class. Special discussion sessions shall be arranged before the exams as needed. Students should prepare for discussions, come with specific questions. I also am available in my office on most days, either to drop in or call.
Quantitative problems: Problems will be given as homework and on exams. These relate to transport across membranes, mass flow in phloem and xylem, redox reactions and the energetics of biochemical reactions.
Paper: Each student will write one paper on the topic of your choice. This will be 3-5 pages in length not counting Figures or Tables, single-spaced, 12 pt font, and 1-inch margins. Provide me with a hard copy, do not email. A list of suggestions will be supplied on the course web site. Use this list as a source of ideas. In most cases I provided a reference as an entrée into the subject. Use at least one paper from the technical literature as a source. Cite your sources. Use the web for less technical information, but use it carefully. Do not plagiarize. Do not pick a complex subject, choose a topic that you understand. Pick a topic that interests you and that relates to the course. You must inform me of your choice of topic so that I can approve it. The first person to pick a topic will get that topic. After we agree on a topic, provide an outline. This should be 5-20 lines long; use email or hard copy. Due dates for choosing your topics, the outline and paper are indicated in the class schedule. I will ask for revisions of titles/topics and outlines until we can agree on these.
The literature citations (references) should be in the following form:
Article in journal:
Loreto F, Pinelli P, Manes F, Kollist H (2004) Impact of ozone on monoterpene emissions and evidences for an isoprene-like antioxidant action of monoterpenes emitted by Quercus ilex (L.) leaves. Tree Physiol 24: 361–367.
Article in an edited book:
Ortega JKE (2004) A quantitative biophysical perspective of expansive growth for cell with walls. In SP Pandalai, editor, Recent Research Developments in Biophysics, Vol 3, Part II. Transworld Research Network, Kerala, India, pp 297–324.
Edited book:
Schopfer P, Mohr H, editors (1995) Plant Physiology. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Authored book:
Fogg GE (1975) The Growth of Plants. Elsevier Press, Suffolk, UK.
In your text the above would be cited as: Loreto et al. 2004; Ortega 2004; Schopfer and Mohr 1995; Fogg 1975.
Talk: You will give a 7 min talk that is based upon your paper. There will be 1 min for questions and a 1 min break after 2 talks. Practice your talk for length – 7 min is very short! The talk should be at a level appropriate for the class. Remember that the class has not read your paper. This may require you to simplify your paper. Use images where appropriate. Use overheads or we may set up PowerPoint. Biology will make color overheads for you, but keep these to a minimum. Begin the talk with a “hook” – a way of getting your audience interested in your topic - and then outline your main topics for the class (i.e. provide a road map). Make no more than 3 main points. 1 or 2 main points would be OK. Provide the class with a 1/2 to 1 page handout that outlines your talk. Provide me (not the class!!) with 3 multiple-choice questions for the final exam that are based upon your talk.
Course Drop Policy: The withdrawal policy is the same as the University of Utah policy described in the Academic Calendar. January 21 is the last day to drop (delete) the class. January 26 is the last day that students may elect the CR/NC or audit option. Friday, March 6 is the last day to withdraw from class.
Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services and activities for people with disabilities. If you will need accommodations in the class, reasonable prior notice needs to be given to the Center for Disability Services, 162 Olpin Union Building, 581-5020 (V/TDD). CDS will work with you and the instructor to make arrangements for accommodations.
All written information in this course can be made available in alternative format with prior notification to the Center for Disability Services
Lecture Schedule: Note that the required reading does not include entire chapters. I will assign the required reading by page number.
M Jan 121. Cyanobacteria and algaeHandouts
W Jan 142. Evolution of land plants, angiosperm diversityHandouts
F Jan 163. Plant and cell structureChapter 1
M Jan 19No class. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
W Jan 214. ThermodynamicsChapter 2
F Jan 235. Redox reactions and electrochemical potentialChapter 2
TOPICS of Student Papers Due: JAN. 26
M Jan 266. Mineral nutritionChapter 5
W Jan 287. Solute transportChapter 6
F Jan 308. Free energy change in solute transport & ATP synthesis
M Feb 29. Bacterial photosynthesis and light harvestingChapter 7
W Feb 410. Light reactions, electron transport, ATP synChapter 7
F Feb 6Exam 1 Lectures 1 – 8
M Feb 911. Carbon dioxide assimilationChapter 8
W Feb 1112. Photorespiration, CAM & C4 photosynthesisChapters 8, 9
Outlines of Student Papers Due: FEB. 13
F Feb 1313. Stable isotopes, C4 evolution & global changeChapter 9
M Feb 16No Class. President's Day
W Feb 1814. Sucrose & starch synthesis, phloemChapter 10
F Feb 2015. Completed the lecture on sucrose & starch synthesis, phloem.
M Feb 2316. Respiration and lipidsChapter 11
W Feb 2517. Nitrogen assimilationChapter 12
F Feb 2718. Plant defenses - secondary metabolites Chapter 13
M Mar 219. Plant defenses - secondary metabolites Chapter 13
W Mar 4Exam 2 Lectures 9-18
F Mar 620. Cell wallsChapter 15
M Mar 9 21. Plant defenses - herbivoresChapters 13, 14
W Mar 1122. Plant defenses - pathogensChapters 13, 14
Student Papers due: march 13
F Mar 1323. Properties of water and water potentialChapters 3, 4
Mar 16-21Semester break
M Mar 2324. Water potential, water movement in plants/soilChapters 3, 4
W Mar 2525. Mass flow, transpiration, global changeChapters 3, 4
F Mar 2726. Red, far-red and blue-light responsesChapters 17, 18
M Mar 3027. Genetics, signal transduction, growth and development, auxins
Chapters 14, 16, 19
W Apr 128. Auxins, cell wall expansionChapter 19
F Apr 329. Gibberellins, cytokininsChapter 20, 21
M Apr 6EXAM 3 Lectures 19-28
W Apr 830. Ethylene, abscisic acid, brassinosteroidsChapters 22, 23, 24
F Apr 1031. Control of floweringChapter 25
M Apr 1332. Stress physiologyChapter 9, 26
W Apr 1533. Stress physiologyChapter 9, 26
F Apr 1734. Agricultural applications
M Apr 20Student Talks Begin, 5 per day
W Apr 22Student talks 2
F Apr 24Student talks 3
M Apr 27Student talks 4
W Apr 29Last class: Student talks 5
Tuesday, May 5FINAL EXAM 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m., only 1 hour.
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