Course Syllabus


BIOL/PBIO 3600

This course is intended to provide 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 capabilities and reproductive strategies. This course emphasizes the underlying properties and activities of plant cells and mechanisms that regulate growth and development.

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PBIO 3600
Gregory Schmidt
Fall 2006

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Principal Course Assignments:

LECTURE SCHEDULE Aug 16 Introduction: Plant vs. animal cells Chpt. 1 Aug 18 Plant membrane systems Chpt. 6, 11 Aug 21 Membrane transporters and channels Chpt. 6 Aug 22 Discussion Session Aug 23 Membrane transporters and channels Chpts. 3, 6 Aug 25 Chloroplasts Chpts. 7, 8, 9 Aug 28 Chloroplasts Chpts. 7, 8, 9 Aug 29 Discussion Session Aug 30 Chloroplasts Chpts. 7, 8, 9 Sep 1 Mitochondria Chpt. 11 Sep 4 Labor Day: No Class Sep 5 to be announced Sep 6 Mitochondria Chpt. 11 Sep 8 Mitochondria Chpt. 11 Sep 11 Glyoxysomes/Peroxisomes Chpt. 11 Sep 12 Exam I Chpt. 6, 25 Sep 13 Vacuoles Sep 15 Vacuoles Chpt. 6, 26 Sep 18 Secretory Pathway Chpt. 1, 15 Sep 19 Discussion Session Sep 20 Secretory Pathway Chpt. 1, 15 Sep 22 Intracellular sorting pathways Chpt. 1, review to be provided Sep 25 Intracellular sorting pathways Chpt. 1 Sep 26 Discussion Session Sep 27 Cell walls Chapt. 15 Sep 29 Cell wall biogenesis Chapt. 15 Oct 2 Cell wall biogenesis Chapt. 15 Oct 3 Discussion Session Oct 4 Cell cycle and mitosis Chapt. 1, Chapt. 21 Oct 6 Exam II For the following, Dr. Galau will update the reading assignments later in the semester: Oct 9 Withdrawal Deadline; Light signaling Oct 10 Discussion Session Oct 11 Light signaling: Phytochrome, phototropin, cryptochrome Oct 13 Auxin signaling Oct 16 Auxin signaling Oct 17 Discussion Session Oct 18 Cytokinin signaling Oct 20 Gibberellin signaling Oct 23 Gibberellin signaling Oct 24 Discussion Session Oct 25 Ethylene signaling Oct 26-27 Fall Break Oct 30 Abscisic acid signaling Brassinosteroids Oct 31 Exam III Nov 1 Protein signaling Nov 3 Protein signaling Nov 6 Controls of flowering Nov 7 Discussion Session Nov 8 Controls of flowering Nov 10 Gametogenesis Nov 13 Controls of flowering Nov 14 Fertilization and compatability Nov 15 Fertilization and compatability Nov 17 Embryogenesis Nov 20 Embryogenesis Nov 22-24 Thanksgiving Holiday: no classes Nov 27 Embryogenesis Nov 28 Discussion Session Nov 29 Shoot meristems and development Dec 1 Shoot meristems and development Dec 4 Root meristems and development Dec 4 Discussion Session Dec 6 Development of vascular systems Dec 7 Reading Day Dec 8 8:00 - 11:00 AM Exam IV

Specific Course Requirements for Grading:

Course Grading: 4 essay exams, 100 points each; class participation, 50 points

Grading Policy:

Reminder: You must be aware of and agree to abide by the University of Georgia policy regarding student conduct in classes, i.e. ACADEMIC HONESTY. If you are not aware of these guidelines, please see regulations governing student academic conduct in your UGA Student Handbook.

Attendance Policy:

Although not mandatory, attendance is essential for gaining a comprehensive grasp of subject matters emphasized in lectures. Credit is provided for student participation in discussions and is another basis for consistent classs attendance.

Required Course Material Including Texts:

Text: Plant Physiology, L. Taiz & E. Zeiger, Fourth Edition, 2006, Sinauer Associates Inc. Publishers Web Supplements: WebCT: BIOL PBIO 3600 Fall 2006 Schmidt http://www.plantphys.net

Makeup Exam Policy:

Make up exams will be granted if students can document reasons of illness, family crises or academic/athletic conflicts.