Food crises, invasive species, GMOs, loss of biodiversity, climate change - these are all hot topics in our society, and all of them are intrinsically linked to plants. Modern plant science holds unprecedented opportunities to link processes at the genetic level to patterns at the landscape, crop or plantation level. This multidisciplinary course introduces you to the exciting breadth of contemporary plant sciences so you can develop a synthetic understanding of this quickly changing field. We will demonstrate links between genetics, anatomy, physiology and ecology. You can expect to develop skills in a wide range of techniques important in contemporary plant science; we will apply your newly honed plant science skills to a detective problem - an intensive research project diagnosing consequences of specific genetic mutations to plant growth and physiology. The course will also serve as basis for further study of plant biology in third year, particularly BIOL3125 Plants and Global Change and BIOL3177 Advances in Molecular Plant Science.

Honours pathway option (HPO)

Entry to this option will be subject to the approval of the course convener, and requires a mark of at least 80 in a first year BIOL course.  Students will engage in a small inquiry-learning project based in one of the lecturers' labs. The project will provide an opportunity to learn and apply techniques and to extend the theory taught in the course.

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

1. Understand, describe and critically evaluate the way plants function at a whole organism level - linking gene function with performance in nature
2. Develop, evaluate and apply a range of contemporary techniques in plant science through guided independent laboratory research: Plant Detectives
3. Analyse, interpret and evaluate results of independent research
4. Work collaboratively in a group to critically interpret results and present these findings orally

Assessment will be based on:

• Theory exam (45%; LO 1)
• Practical quizzes (15%; LO 1, 2)
• Final practical written report written in form of a scientific paper (30%; LO 2, 3)
• Group symposium presentation around lab project and participation in discussions (10%; LO 1, 4)

Indicative assessment for HPO Option:

 A written report or presentation will replace research project quizzes.  Written (and/or) Oral report (10%), Final written report in form of a scientific paper (30%), Group presentation (10%), Theory exam (50%).

Three lectures each week for first 10 weeks, practical sessions weekly from week 5, some tutorials

Two first year BIOL courses.

BIOL2024 and BIOL2025