LBIK10214U Frontiers in Plant Science
This advanced course involves the strong scientific
groupings in the new Copenhagen Plant Science Center.
Research topics in the frontier of plant science will be elucidated
guided by the newest scientific literature. Examples of selected
topics are:
1. Photosynthesis and its regulation
How do the photosystems of plants respond to different light
conditions (intensity, wavelength, duration) and to changes in
other environmental factors?
2. Regulation of carbohydrate metabolism
How is whole plant growth tuned by the key steps of carbohydrate
metabolism at the cellular level?
3. Molecular physiology of mineral nutrient acquisition, transport
and utilization
Plants use a wide range of mechanisms and responses to acquire
essential mineral nutrients from the soil. How are these mechanisms
working together?
4. Plant hormones: Signal perception and transduction
Phytohormones can initiate a wide range of contrasting responses.
How can different stimuli give rise to different responses all use
the same messenger?
5. Plant microbe interactions
Plants interact with a diverse range of microorganisms which can be
both beneficial (e.g. symbiotic nitrogen fixation) and harmful
(e.g. causing disease).
6. Responses to abiotic stresses
Progress in understanding plant responses to stress has been
impressive. The problem of how plant homeostasis is maintained in a
changing environment still raises many new questions.
7. Development
The onset of flowering represents a major developmental shift in
the plant life cycle and a myriad of genes control this
developmental process. Programmed cell death is a controlled
process that results in senescence.
8. Plant cell polymers and cell wall elongation
The plant cell wall is not a dead coat. Recent research shows that
it is a complex and dynamic entitity controlling many vital plant
processes.
9. Bioimaging as a powerful technology to study long distance
transport in plants.
10. Light signaling processes in plants to ensure optimal metabolic
responses to external stimuli.
11. Biosynthesis of pharmacologically active terpenoids and their
production by heterologous expression.
12. Biosynthesis of cyanogenic glucosides and their multiple roles
in primary and secondary metabolism.
13. Biosynthesis and regulation of glucosinolates and their
production in heterologus hosts.
14. Gene silencing
Gene silencing occurs naturally by small interfering RNAs but can
also be induced by virus mediated gene silencing. Both mechanisms
can be used as effective tools to study gene function in
plants.
The aim of the course is to give the student a thorough
knowledge of important research topics within modern plant biology.
The course will illustrate how novel technologies within plant
genomics, genetics, biochemistry and physiology are used to produce
coherent knowledge of complex biological systems which previously
were difficult to understand. The use of the new knowledge in
designing crop plants for the future using classical breeding in
combination with genetic engineering will be discussed.
After completion of the course the student should be able to:
Knowledge:
- describe the frontiers of international research in plant science
within a range of core areas.
- identify molecular methods and approaches which can be used to
solve specific problems within plant biology.
Skills:
- interpret the results presented in scientific articles and take a
critical and creative standpoint to the presented scientific
problems.
- use basic knowledge from other disciplines in an integrated
manner when analysing current problems in plant biology.
- discuss ethical problems related to the latest developments in
plant science.
Competences:
- evaluate critically the limits and possibilities of new theories
and the solidity of experimental evidence.
- transfer theories and principles from advanced state-of-the-art
molecular plant biology to solve new questions posed by the
research community, industry and the society.
20-30 scientific papers will be part of curriculum
- Category
- Hours
- Exam
- 10
- Lectures
- 40
- Preparation
- 132
- Theory exercises
- 24
- Total
- 206
As
an exchange, guest and credit student - click here!
Continuing Education - click here!
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Oral examination, 30 minOral examination
- Exam registration requirements
- Participation in the oral examination requires acceptance of three written exercises submitted by the student: a PowerPoint presentation of a scientific paper; a five-page description of methods in a scientific paper; and a five-page review of recent developments in the field of a selected scientific paper.
- Aid
- Written aids allowed
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
One internal examiner
Criteria for exam assesment
See Learning outcome
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- LBIK10214U
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 1 block
- Placement
- Block 1 And Autumn
- Schedule
- C (Mon 13-17 + Wednes 8-17)
- Course capacity
- No limitations
- Continuing and further education
- Study board
- Study Board of Natural Resources and Environment
Contracting departments
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences
- Department of Biology
Course responsibles
- Michael Broberg Palmgren (8-756671726c776a734575716a7333707a336970)