SyllabusPlant Cell Biology Spring2019
PlantCell Biology-BOT4542
2:00- 4:50TUESDAY
Sanson LifeSciencesBldg SC119
Credithours:3
Format:InPerson
OnLinecourse: No
Coursenumber:BOT 4542
Prerequisites:Thiscourse hasbeenlistedwithnoprerequisitesexceptBSC1010andBSC1011. Howeverpreparationin introductoryplant biology,undergraduatecellandmolecularbiology and undergraduateplant physiologywillbestprepare youfor success.Ifyoulackadequate preparationyouwillneed toplan extra studytimetokeepupwiththematerial.
Instructor contact information
Instructor:Dr. Xing-Hai Zhang
Office:SC Office Hours:Tuesday11-2 or byappointment
Office Phone:561297-1011
E-mailAddress:
Required text
ThetextisTheMolecularLifeof Plants.Firstedition.Jones,Ougham,Thomasand Waaland.
2013.Thebookmaybepurchasedasaneworused hardcopyorpaperback,electroniccopyor rentedfromthepublisher,Wiley-Blackwell.ISBN978-0-470-87012-9(paperback).ISBN978-0-
470-87011-2(hardback).Thereareused copiesavailableon Amazonaswellasnewcopiesand
linkstopurchaserentalcopies and electroniccopiesfromthepublisherandin theFAU Bookstore.Itisnotavailablein theFAULibraryor through interlibraryloan. Thebookshould be purchasedbeforethefirst dayof class.
Thereisa companion website accessedwithpowerpointsofall figuresandPDFs of tables.Atthepresenttimethis canbe accessedwithoutan accesscodeneeded.Thereare notextor studyguideson thewebsite.
Inaddition,ifyouhave limitedplant biologybackgroundyoumaywanttopurchaseacopyof Raven,BiologyofPlantsbyEvertandEichhorn.ISBN978-1-4292-1961-7 8theditionWH FreemanandCompany.Used copiesoftheearlier7theditionare availablefromAmazonvery inexpensivelyand havesufficientbackgroundmaterial.
Additional materialsasneeded.
Coursedescription
PlantCell Biologycoversthecell biological aspectsestablishedin plantanatomy,plant physiology,plantgrowthand development,planttaxonomy,plantbiochemistry,and plant molecularbiology.An emphasis ismadeonexperimentalapproachesusedtounderstandthese processesatthemolecularlevel.Adiscussionof modelorganismsandcelltypeswillbe included.Formatwillincludelectures,discussions,and in-class studentpresentations.
Thisisan excitingtimefor plantbiology!!!Plantsare thebasisofalllifeon Earth.Theyare componentsof natural ecosystems;ascropsusedforfood,feedand materials;usedasmodel systemsto understandall eukaryoticcellularfunction;andalsousedtounderstandhuman biology and diseaseata celland molecularlevel.Plantcellbiologistsarebeginningto understandthecomplexsignals andmolecularnetworksof plantsthatmakethemunique while sharing cellularcharacteristicsof alleukaryoticorganisms.
We willemphasizescientificcommunication,examinationof currentliterature(bothprimary andsecondarysources)and developingpersonalskills.Grant writing andgrantawarding proceduresand processeswillbecoveredaswellasscientificoralpresentations.
Some coursematerials(syllabus,readingassignments,announcements,teamprojects,plantsin thenewsarticles,etc.)willbeavailableonFAUCanvas (the newcoursemanagementsystem
for FAU).
Courseobjectives/student learningoutcomes
Thiscourseisdesignedtointroduceupperdivisionundergraduatestocontemporaryplantcell and molecularbiology.Advances inplantcellbiologyaredueto theintersectionof plant
biochemistry,physiology,genomics,development,molecularbiology and evolution research. Newtechniques,modelorganisms,internationalcooperationand dedicatednew instrumentationhavealsoplayedamajorroleinourunderstandingof plantcellbiology. Students willlearntheuniquefeaturesof theplantcell,theplantgenomes,and growth and developmentata cellularlevel.Scientific communicationattheresearcher,universitystudent and the informedcitizenlevel will bemastered.Theimportanceof plantsascomponentsof natural ecosystems;ascropsusedforfood,feedandmaterials;and asmodel systemsto understandalleukaryoticcellularfunction willbedemonstrated.Thecomplexsignalsand molecularnetworksof plantsthat makethemuniquewhilesharingcellularcharacteristicsofall eukaryoticorganismswillbelearned.
Canvas
Canvas isthe learningmanagementsystem(LMS)usedatFAUfor courses.Yourusernameand passwordfor Canvas isthe sameusedtolog intoyourmyFAU.Forthis course,youcan:
•Viewthe coursesyllabus
•Checktestdatesand instructions
•ViewPowerpointsof thelectures
•Seesupplementalhelplike practicequizzes andstudyguides postedbeforeeachquiz
•Checkfor announcements
•Viewgrades
Itisimportant tolearn howtonavigateCanvasfor allyourFAUcourses.Go
to linkthroughyourMyFAUpage to theCanvas Student Training Course.Thepurposeof thiscourse istopreparestudentstouseCanvaswith theircourses(traditional,hybrid,and online) andserveasaresourcethat can bereferredback toaftertrainingiscompleted.
Therearemultiple waystogetsupportfor Canvas-relatedissues or questions.Callthe toll-free number(855)6917827or calltheFAUhelpdeskat561.297.3999andchoose Option3.Ifyou are loggedinto Canvas(
corner,underthe globalmenu.You will beable tochatwithaCanvasrepresentativeby clicking on“Chatwith CanvasSupport.”
Coursestructure
Mostclass meetingwillbecomposedof (1)alecture,(2)a quiz on theprior week’slecture and pastand currentreadingassignments,(3)teammeetingtimes(4)studentpresentationsand(5) “plantsin thenews”presentations.Anannounced“megaquiz”coveringmultiplelecturesor readingswillbegiven.Classattendanceismandatoryand thereisnomakeupfor missed quizzesor lateassignments. Onequizgradewillbedropped.
Atthefirst meetingtheclass willformteamsof undergraduatesand graduatestudents.The teamwillberesponsiblefortwo class presentationson topics chosenearlyin thesemester.The presentationmust beaccompaniedbyhandoutsfortheclass.Teammemberswillusually
sharethesamegradeforthe assignment.Moreinstructionswillbegiveninclass.
Undergraduateswill writeashortpaperon atopicassignedinclass.Thepaper willbe4-6pages inlength andwillbebasedonreadingsin thetextbookortopicsin thenews(using primary
and/orsecondaryresearchsources).Thepapertopic will beassignedbyFebruary7st.The
paperisdueatthebeginningofclassonApril11.I will commentonearlydraftsup until April
4th.
Course topical outline and text bookreadingassignment:
Thismaybemodified asthe semesterprogresses.Lecturetopics and associated readingssubject tochange;mega quizand final exam dates firm.The out-of- classroomassignments are
expectedtotake atleast6hours perweekof(1) textbook-assignedreadings,(2) reviewof lecturenotesand supplementalmaterials postedon Canvas, (3)study, (4) practicetest-taking, (5) plantsin the newsresearch(6) researchforand preparationof grouppresentations,(7) researchand writingofassignedpaperand (8)tutoringoradditional individual helpfrom Professorasneeded.
WeekTopicReadingsQuiz
January10Introductionto PlantBiologyChapter1
January17, 24CellArchitectureChapter4Quiz,quiz January31 GenomicOrganizationandExpression Chapter3 Quiz February7,14 Membranetransportand proteintraffickingChapter5 Quiz,Quiz
February21,28ThecellcycleandmeristemsChapter11 Quiz, Megaquiz
SpringBreakMarch7
March 14 / Growth anddevelopment / Chapter12QuizMarch 21,28 / Lightperceptionatcell level / Chapter8, 9Quiz,Quiz
Suggesteddate:March28 for submittingpaperdraft
April4IntercellularTransportChapter14Quiz
Lastdatefor submittingpaperdraftsifrequested.
April11-18FloweringandsexualreproductionChapter16Quiz,
Student Papers:DueatstartofclassApril11
Examweek: TuesdayMay2nd1:15- 3:45FinalExam
Courseevaluation method
Up to13multiple choiceand essayquizzes willbegiveneachduring classtimeincludinga
longercumulativequiz(Megaquiz) anda cumulative final.Thelowestregularquizscorewillbe droppedin calculationof finalgrade.Themegaquizand finalwill count astwoquizgradesand mynot be dropped.Thereforenomake-upquizzes willbegiven.Undergraduatesandgraduates willhavedifferentquizzes.60%of totalgrade
Theclassteampresentationswillbegradedoncontent,understandingof thesubject, completenessof presentation,clarityand handouts. 30%of total grade.
Thestudentpaperswillbegradedoncontent,completenessof review,understanding,depthof critical analysis,organizationandgrammaticalcorrectness.Paperdueatthestartofclasson April11,2019. 10%of totalgrade.
Extra credit:Foreach“plantsin thenewspresentation”1%pointwillbeadded tofinalgrade. (Limit5%points).
SuggestedTopicsforGroupPresentations
Specializedplantcells:Stomata,roothairs,collenchyma,storagecells,pollengrains,sperm, xylem,phloem,endosperm,cork,wood,storagecells,sclerenchyma,trichomes,epidermal cells,fibers,rootcap,spores
Specializedplantcellfeatures:Plasmadesmata,cell wallsynthesis,apicalmeristems,roottip growth,lateralmeristems,motile sperm,gametophytegeneration(ferns,bryophytes),pollen
grains and fertilization,plantembryosandseeds,seeddispersalmechanisms,cytoplasmic streaming,chloroplasts,chloroplastgenomes,plantmitosisand cytokinesis,phragmoplast and celldivision, vacuole,cutin, waxes,secondaryplantmetabolites,phytochromeandlight perception
Plantcellulargenetics:Nucleargenome,chloroplastgenome,chromosomesandploidylevels. Evolutionaryimplications.Genestructure,expression and regulation.RNAs
Plantbiotechnology:Plantsthathavebeengeneticallymodified.Geneticmodification techniques,GMOpolicies. Agriculturaladvancesvs world hunger.Salt tolerance,drought tolerance,nutritionalvalue, increasedproductivity,increasedshelflife,pest resistant,herbicide resistant,lessfertilizer,stressresistant,heat orcoldtolerant,ornamentalvalue.
Crop plantsandagricultureatthe cellularlevel:Cellularbasisfor cropplantvalue.Protein,lipid, carbohydrate,lignincontentandmodificationsofa particularcropplant.Uniquenon-food
plantproducts(cork,oils, medicines,wood, paper,cloth).
Plantsubcellularfeatures:Plant cytoskeleton,organelles,plantcellwall,ribosomes,vacuole, plastids
Modelplantsand their importancetocellbiology:Arabidopsis,tobacco,corn,Chlamydomonas, tomato.
Plantcellbiologytools:Advancesinmicroscopy,geneticengineering,breeding,cladistics.
Plantpathogeninteractionsatthecellularlevel:Secondaryplantmetabolites,plantviruses, fungalpathogens,plantdefenses,geneticengineeringtoimproveplant defenses.
Writingassignment.
4-6pages.FirstdraftbeforeApril4th (send electronically)
Plantsin thenews.Find originalarticle,discusswhyitisnewsworthy(whywasit pickedfor news).Read the article.Wasit presentedaccuratelyand well?Summarizethe findings.Was thisanimportantstudy?Howdoesitadvanceplantscience,agriculture,technology,policy etc.?Whatshould theresearchersdonext? Did youuseany additionalreferences(Ifso includefullreferencecitation).Attachthe articleand theresearchpaper.
Plantgeneticengineering. Picka plant thathashad agenegeneticallyengineered.Describe it. Howwasitdone?Whywasthisgenechosen to bemodifiedortransferredinto theplant? Whatdoesthegenedo?Howdoesitimpact...nutrition,growthqualities,stressmediation, economicimprovement,yield,insector herbicideresistance,ordrugproduction etc.?Was this
avaluable genechangeandwhy?Whatothergeneswould yousuggesttheresearcherswork onin thisplantor inotherplants?Whatisyouropinion of theresearch?You canstartwitha newsarticleand find thescientificarticle.Attachthearticleand theresearchpaper.
Course gradingscale
CumulativePerformanceGrade
90%to100% A
86%- 89% A-
82%- 85% B+
78%- 81% B
74%- 77% B-
70%- 73% C+
66%- 69% C
62%- 65% C-
58%- 61% D+
54%- 57% D
50%-53% D-
49%--- F
Policyon makeup tests
No make-uptestswillbegiven.Ifaquizismissedfor anyreason,includingexcusedabsences, thatquiz will bethesingle testscoredroppedin calculationof finalgrade.Ifan assignmentis late,thenonelettergradeisdeductedfromassignmentgradeforeachdaylate.
FAUAttendancePolicyStatement:
Students areexpectedtoattendallof theirscheduledUniversityclassesand tosatisfyall academicobjectivesasoutlinedbytheinstructor.Theeffectofabsencesupon gradesis determinedby the instructor,and theUniversityreservestheright todealat anytime with
individualcasesof non-attendance.Studentsareresponsibleforarrangingtomakeupwork missedbecauseof legitimateclass absence,suchasillness,family emergencies,military obligation,court-imposedlegalobligations orparticipationinUniversityapprovedactivities. ExamplesofUniversity-approvedreasonsforabsencesincludeparticipatingon an athleticor scholasticteam,musicaland theatricalperformancesand debateactivities.Itisthe student’s responsibilitytogivetheinstructornoticepriortoany anticipatedabsencesand within a reasonableamountof timeafteran unanticipatedabsence,ordinarilyby thenext scheduled class meeting.Instructorsmustalloweachstudentwho isabsentforaUniversity-approved reasonthe opportunitytomakeupworkmissedwithoutany reductionin thestudent’sfinal coursegradeasadirectresultof suchabsence.Inthisclass,nomake-uptestswillbegiven.Ifa quiz ismissedforanyreason, including excusedabsences,thatquizwillbethe singlescore droppedin calculationof the finalgrade.
Classroometiquettepolicy
Universitypolicyon theuseofelectronicdevicesstates:“Inordertoenhanceandmaintaina productiveatmospherefor education,personalcommunication devices, suchascellular telephonesand pagers,are tobedisabledinclasssessions.”Norecordingoflecturesis allowed including photographs.
Disabilitypolicystatement
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act(ADAAA), students who require reasonable accommodations due to a disability to properly execute coursework must register with Student Accessibility Services (SAS) — in Boca Raton, SU 133 (561-297-3880); in Davie, LA 203 (954-236-1222); or in Jupiter, SR 117 (561-799-8585) — and follow all SASprocedures.
Religious Accommodations
Students whowish tobeexcusedfromcoursework,class activitiesor examinations mustnotify theinstructor inadvanceof theirintentiontoparticipatein religiousobservationandrequest anexcusedabsence.
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StudentsatFloridaAtlanticUniversityareexpectedtomaintainthe highest ethicalstandards. Academicdishonesty,includingcheatingand plagiarism,isconsideredaseriousbreach of these ethicalstandards,becauseit interfereswiththeUniversitymission toprovideahigh quality educationin whichnostudentenjoysan unfair advantage overanyother.Academicdishonesty
isalsodestructiveof theUniversitycommunity,whichisgrounded inasystemof mutual trust and placeshigh valueonpersonalintegrityandindividualresponsibility.Harsh penaltiesare associatedwithacademicdishonesty.Forfull detailsof the FAUCodeof AcademicIntegrity, seeUniversityRegulation
4.001
Tipsto get and stayon trackfor atimelygraduation
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3)Usethe “DepartmentalSchedule”(not the “SearchableSchedule”)tosee all courses available (bydepartment)withinagivensemesterwhenworkingtoscheduleyourclasses.
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CreditHourPolicy:ExcessHoursSurcharge
FloridaStatute1009.286defines“excesshours”ascredithoursthatexceedthecompletion requirementsforabaccalaureatedegreeprogramat stateuniversities.Forstudentsenrollingin astateuniversityoraFloridaStateCollegeSysteminstitutionforthe firsttimein or afterthe
fall2009semester,a tuitionratesurchargewill beapplied for excesshours.Thesurchargeis assessed onlyonthetuitionportionof thesemesterhour cost,noton thefees.Theamountof thesurcharge and theallowable“excesshours” are determinedbythe initial termofentryas indicatedin thecatalog.For the completePolicy
see.