Plant Molecular and Developmental Biology
Theory: 3 hours/week | ECTS Units: 5
Content – Aim of the course
Plant molecular biology has provided a wealth of insight into the how plants grow, reproduce, develop, respond to their environment, and defend themselves. The course in intended to cover
- The basics of plant gene structure and function, and the application of that knowledge to both basic and applied plant biology research
- Current knowledge of plant molecular biology, the experimental basis for that knowledge and its application to elucidate the mechanisms underlying complex cellular and organismal processes
- Current knowledge in the fields associated with plant structural and functional genomics
- Mechanisms (endogenous and environmental factors) that determine plant growth and development
Analytical Description of the Course
- Plant gene structure, Mt DNA, Plastid DNA
- Genome organization in plants (cell cycle, ploidy, transposable elements, transcriptions factors, protein synthesis in plants, epigenetic mechanisms)
- Molecular mechanisms of plant signal transduction (receptors, signal transduction pathways in cells, tissues, in whole plant and between plants: hormones, defence)
- Functional genomics
- Plant development characteristics (growth, differentiation, development)
- Gametogenesis- cytoplasmic male sterility
- Embryogenesis
- Development of root, stem, leaves, flower
- Co-ordination of development
- Cell death
Assessment
Exams will be on the material covered in lectures, as well as readings, assignments and in-class discussions. They will exist of a mix of question types: short answers, problem solving, short essays, and multiple-choice.
The final evaluation will be determined from the following components:
- Two midterm exams
- Final exam
- Miscellaneous lecture assignments.
Reading Suggestions
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology of Plants, Buchanan B.B., Gruissem W. & Jones R.L., Wiley J & Sons, Ltd., 2002
- Μechanisms in Plant Development, Leyser O. & Day S., Blackwell Publishing, 2002.
- Molecular Plant Biology, Gilmartin P.M & Bowler C (eds.) Oxford University Press,2002.
Teaching Material / E-class
Lecturer
