LPLK10392U Experimental Plant Science
MSc Programme in Agriculture
The course offers the opportunity to gain experience in
conducting experimental work with the aim of achieving advanced as
well as practical insight in plant science. Previously acquired
knowledge and skills will form the basis for the experimental work.
The experiments cover a range of well-established methods,
state-of-the art and cutting edge technologies used to study
plants, their development and function. The course is placed at the
beginning of the MSc education programme and runs over two blocks
to allow studying the processes involved in growth and development
of plants also over longer time periods.
The main focus is on how to apply acquired knowledge in an
experimental setup; this comprises knowledge gained in earlier
courses which will be combined with research topics in current
plant science. The conducted experiments are research based and
will include an array of tools and methodologies useful to analyse
and examine plants in different settings and with different aims.
The aim of the course is to give students in depth knowledge and
understanding of key physiological and molecular function of plants
and plant organs, from whole plant level to molecular and cellular
perspectives. Learning, understanding and practice is obtained by
combining knowledge about plants within a number of selected
topics with appropriate methods and technologies used to
analyse plants and plant products. The methods and technologies
learned in this course are useful in research and plant production;
they can be applied in the laboratory, in the field or in
ecosystems. The methodology covers a broad range from molecular
tools to measurement of physiological processes, growth and
development.
The topics are:
• Genetic modification and gene expression
• Leaves, climate and photosynthesis
• Roots, water and nutrients
• Plant development and senescence
The aim of the course is to give the students thorough knowledge
and skills within modern plant science. The course intends to
illustrate established methods and presents novel technologies
within plant biology. The students will learn to work with a range
of plants, from model plants to plants in a production context.
During the course they will use a number of tools to understand
plant functions and to analyse plant growth and development. The
students will become familiar with measurement of physiological and
molecular processes e.g. photosynthesis, as well as genetic
analyses e.g. genetic plant improvement and gene expression
studies.
After completion of the course the students should be able to:
Knowledge:
- Describe basic and advanced analytical methods and techniques
within plant science.
- Identify methods and approaches that can be used in the
analysis of problems within plant science
- Describe methods and technologies used in research and in plant
production to solve specific scientific problems
- Describe how to plan and conduct an experiment or research based
project, from background and problem statement to interpretation of
data and report writing.
Skills:
- Plan and conduct a scientific experiment within plant science
- Analyse, evaluate, discuss and come to a conclusion based on data
obtained from own experiments or data and results obtained from
others
- Interpret and evaluate the results presented in scientific
articles and take a critical and creative standpoint to the
presented scientific problems
- Present, analyse and communicate results from conducted
experiments and critically set the results in a perspective
- Critically evaluate the limits and possibilities of new methods
and technologies in relation to experimental evidence in a
scientific context
Competences:
- Work independently and in a group to plan and conduct experiments
related to research based problems and questions
- Transfer results and practice from experimental work to knowledge
and understanding of scientific subjects
- Critically interpret data, draw conclusions and present
results to various target groups
- Reflect about obtained results and derived knowledge in relation
to plant science, usefulness in plant production and relevance for
industries and society
Scientific research articles and review papers will be part of the curriculum. Further information will be available on Absalon.
Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree is recommended.
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 34
- Class Instruction
- 24
- Preparation
- 222
- Theory exercises
- 4
- Practical exercises
- 102
- Excursions
- 24
- Exam
- 2
- Total
- 412
Formative feedback to assignments via Absalon Speedgrader
Individual and group feedback by oral communication
Feedback on student presentations (conference)
Quizzes
- Credit
- 15 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Oral examination, 30 minutes
- Type of assessment details
- Oral exam (no preparation time) will be based in two of the topics from the course. The student draw questions at the exam in one of the topics, and then there will be questions to one of the practical exercises from one of the other topics, also drawn by the student. Each part will count 50% and both parts have to be passed.
- Exam registration requirements
8 of 9 reports have to be accepted. Participation and presentation at conference.
- Aid
- Without aids
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
Several internal examiners
- Re-exam
Same as the ordinary exam.
Students who do not fulfill the requirements for attending the ordinary exam will have to follow the course again.
Criteria for exam assesment
The assesment will be based on the learning outcome.
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- LPLK10392U
- Credit
- 15 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 2 blocks
- Placement
- Block 1 And Block 2
- Schedule
- A
- Course capacity
- No limitation – unless you register in the late-registration period (BSc and MSc) or as a credit or single subject student.
Study board
- Study Board of Natural Resources, Environment and Animal Science
Contracting departments
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences
- Department of Geoscience and Natural Resource Management
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Science
Course Coordinators
- Henrik Vlk Lütken (hlm@plen.ku.dk)
Lecturers
Anders Ræbild
Bruno Trevenzoli Favero
Eva Rosenqvist
Fulai Liu
Henrik Lütken (responsible)
Morten Ingerslev
Søren Husted
Signe Marie Jensen