The integration of molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics and cell biology has had an enormous impact on plant science in recent years. 

This course will present current understanding in several key areas and demonstrate how conceptual and technical advances provide new insights in plant biology and new approaches for crop improvement and agriculture. 

Two introductory lectures will be given on plant structure and function prior to the major topics, which will include:

• Plant growth and development
• Regulation of gene expression
• Nutrient acquisition
• Photosynthesis
• Disease
• Defence

Each topic will be presented by a researcher from the School of Biology or CSIRO Plant Industry. 

The course will include laboratory experience with equipment and techniques used in plant molecular research.

Note: Graduate students attend joint classes with undergraduates but are assessed separately.

On satisfying the requirements of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Understand and describe the problems being addressed and the advances achieved in molecular plant science
2. Understand and describe several advanced molecular techniques and how they are being used to achieve advances in molecular plant science
3. Search bibliographic databases to identify papers reporting recent advances in specific areas of molecular plant science and to distill, integrate, evaluate and discuss the important findings of these papers in writing
4. Use a selection of plant-science-related molecular techniques and to present and interpret data generated by these techniques in writing
5. Analyse in depth, and critically evaluate, papers reporting recent advances in molecular plant science, and present orally the findings of the papers, placing them in context and providing critical commentary, using appropriate visual aids

Assessment will be based on:

• Essay on research papers (16%; LO 1, 2, 3)
• Tutorial Quizzes (8%; LO 1, 2)
• Laboratory Reports (10%; LO 4)
• Final Examination (50%; LO 1, 2)
• Seminar on a research paper (16%; LO 1, 2, 3, 5)

Requires Bachelor of Science or equivalent with a major in the field of biological sciences with relevant experience or academic achievement, and specific knowledge in the area of cell and molecular biology.