NWI-BB069B
Plant Physiology
Course infoSchedule
Course moduleNWI-BB069B
Credits (ECTS)6
Category02 (Introductory with prior knowledge)
Language of instructionEnglish
Offered byRadboud University; Faculty of Science; BioWetenschappen;
Lecturer(s)
Coordinator
prof. dr. I. Rieu
Other course modules lecturer
Examiner
prof. dr. I. Rieu
Other course modules lecturer
Contactperson for the course
prof. dr. I. Rieu
Other course modules lecturer
Lecturer
prof. dr. I. Rieu
Other course modules lecturer
Lecturer
dr. E.J.W. Visser
Other course modules lecturer
Academic year2021
Period
KW2  (08/11/2021 to 30/01/2022)
Starting block
KW2
Course mode
full-time
RemarksStudents who want to follow this course as part of a premaster or minor, contact the premaster/minor student advisor
Registration using OSIRISYes
Course open to students from other facultiesNo
Pre-registrationNo
Waiting listNo
Placement procedure-
Aims
After this course, you can:
  • describe the basic functioning of plants, using the key definitions and concepts around the topics of water balance, nutrients, photosynthesis, signalling, development, growth, adaptation
  • develop plausible and effective hypotheses to study simple plant physiological questions, keeping both theory and practical execution in mind
  • plan and organise short lab experiments in such a way that they can be performed efficiently
  • critically assess experimental results and draw valid conclusions using basal knowledge of plant physiology 
  • report on your experimental work in an accepted scientific format
Content
The discipline of plant physiology studies and describes the functioning of plants, with regulatory processes having a central position. The bachelor course Plant Physiology discusses the basic knowledge, concepts and experimental practices of the field, building upon knowledge and skills obtained in first-year courses, such as "Evolution and Development of Plants" and "Cellular Biochemistry". Furthermore, first insight will be obtained in the interaction between plants and their environment, plant genetics and biotechnology and sustainability-related aspects of plant science.

The course consists of theoretical and practical learning activities. The theoretical part includes lectures and tutorials for self-assessment and revisiting of difficult topics. In the lab classes, the newly acquired knowledge will be applied in the designing, planning and execution of experiments, with particular focus on the reporting. The lab class also includes a writing workshop.

The topics discussed in the Plant Physiology course are expanded upon in the differentiation courses "Ecophysiology", "Plant Genome Analysis" and "Biotechnology of Plants" and in bachelor internship projects at the plant science departments.

Instructional Modes
  • Lecture
  • Tutorial
  • Response course
  • Self-study
  • Lab class
  • Writing workshop
Level

Presumed foreknowledge
  • Plant structures (cells, tissues, organs, organism), structure-function relationships, development (Evolution and Development of Plants)
  • Genes, gene expression, proteins (Molecular Biology and Recombinant DNA)
  • Photosynthesis, respiration (Cellular biochemistry / Microbiology)
  • Descriptive and basic test statistics (Statistics 1)
  • Test information
    Written exam (digital) and laboratory class reports
    Specifics
    In the case of not being able to attend one or more practical courses/lab days due to corona measures, the course coordinator will decide if the student is obligated to re-take the missed meeting and how this will take place.
     
    Required materials
    Book
    Taiz and Zeiger, Plant Physiology and development, 6th revised edition, Sinauer Associates Inc, USA.
    ISBN:9781605353265
    Book
    Knisely, A Student Handbook for Writing in Biology, 5th edition, Macmillan Learning,
    ISBN:9781319121815

    Instructional modes
    Course occurrence

    Lab class
    Attendance MandatoryYes

    Remark
    28 h

    Lecture

    Remark
    21 h

    Response course

    Remark
    3 h

    Tutorial

    Remark
    6 h

    Working group
    Attendance MandatoryYes

    Remark
    4 h

    Workshop
    Attendance MandatoryYes

    Remark
    6 h

    Zelfstudie

    Remark
    89 h

    Tests
    Digital Exam
    Test weight3
    Test typeDigital exam with CIRRUS
    OpportunitiesBlock KW2, Block KW3

    Report
    Test weight2
    Test typeReport
    OpportunitiesBlock KW2, Block KW3