ORGANISMAL PLANT BIOLOGY
PBIO 1220, Spring 2009

Instructors:
Dr. Zheng-Hua Ye, R3607 PSB, Phone: 542-1832 zhye@plantbio.uga.edu - office hours by appointment

Course Goals:
The biological world is populated with an amazing diversity of organisms. In PBIO 1220, we investigate the biodiversity of plants, algae, fungi, and bacteria through comparative morphology and evolution. We describe examples of the many remarkable ways that plants are adapted to their particular habitats, and their fascinating and intricate interactions with other organisms through competition, symbiosis and mutualism. Throughout the semester we talk about the significant relationships between plants and human culture and activities. The lectures are well illustrated with slides and video clips to give the students an accurate sense of the real organisms that are discussed.

Textbook:
Introductory Plant Biology, 11th Edition, Stern, 2008, McGraw Hill.  Chapter assignments will be given in lecture. The textbook website is www.mhhe.com/botany/ .  Use the registration code in your textbook to access the site for useful information and study tools. It is broken down by chapter and each chapter contains illustrations, essays, self-quizzes, flashcards, weblinks and more.

Lectures:
Room 1501 Plant Sciences Bldg (PSB):  11:00 - 12:15 Tuesday and Thursday.
Lecture attendance encouraged by a daily quiz question (4 points total; of these, 2 points for attendance and 2 points for the correct answer) during each period.
Essays: Six essay questions (20 points each) related to lecture topics will be assigned in class. Write with your own words, and list the sources of the information you cited. Essays should be typed and turned in on or before the set due dates (minus 5 points if turned in after the set due date).

Exams:
Exams will be 50 multiple-choice questions.  Make-up exams are not available.  Bring a #2 pencil and UGA ID card to exams.   Note that the FINAL EXAM is on Tuesday, MAY 5 at noon.

Grading:
Exams (incl. the final) @ 100 points each = 300, lecture quizzes = 110 points, essays = 120 points. Total =530
A = 477 - 530,  B = 424 - 476,  C = 371 - 423,  D = 318 - 370,  F <317

Lecture outlines:
After each lecture an outline of the materials covered in the lecture will be posted on the course webpage.  This is only an outline and will not be comprehensive.  To access an outline, click on the desired lecture date.  The best way to use the lecture outline as a study aid is for you to write in additional information from lecture and the text.

Lecture schedule:

Jan.    8      Introductions/human dependence on plants
        13      Plant names and classification
        15      Bacteria
        20      Bacteria useful to humans: plant genetic engineering-I
        22      Bacteria useful to humans: plant genetic engineering-II
        27      Bacteria useful to humans: plant genetic engineering-III
        29      Bacteria useful to humans: nitrogen cycle    
Feb.    3      Viruses
          5      Fungi
        10      First Hour Exam
        12      Alga-I
        17      Alga-II
        19      Bryophytes
        24      Bryophytes -II
        26      Evolution of vascular plants
Mar.    3      Seedless vascular plants
          5      Evolution of seed
     9-13      Spring Break
        17      Seed plants: Gymnosperms
        19      Gymnosperms: diversity
        24      Second Hour Exam
        26      Evolution of the flower
        31     
Pollination ecology
April   2     Evolution of fruits
          7      Crop plant evolution and plant breeding
          9      Flowering plants: diversity-I
        14      Flowering plants: diversity-II
        16      Evolution
        21      Ecology
        23      Biomes-I
        28      Biomes-II
May   5      Final Exam Noon - 3:00pm


Essay questions:


Essays

Academic honesty:
Enrollment at UGA assumes binding and informed agreement with the policy of academic honesty adopted by UGA. For full details go to the OVPI website: http://www.uga.edu/honesty/

Study tips:
            See Darley’s study tips for Biology at: http://www.botany.uga.edu/~darley/studybio.html

Organismal Plant Biology Laboratory - Botany 1220L
Room 1604 Plant Sciences Building
Laboratory Schedule

Sample Exam Questions (click here):

Grades:

Quiz, Essay and Exam Grades (1/8 to 2/10)

Quiz, Essay and Exam Grades (2/12 to 3/24)

Quiz, Essay and Exam Grades (3/26 to 5/5)

Cumulative Grade to Date (Your Final Grade; Contact the instructor before this Friday, May 8, if you find any discrepancy)