PLBIO 4540 - Plant Cell Biology

Fall. 4 credits. Letter grades only.

Prerequisite: one year of college-level introductory biology. Offered in odd-numbered years only. Co-meets with PLBIO 6540.

R. Wayne.

Uses evidence from microscopy, physiology, biochemistry, and molecular biology to try to unravel the mystery of the living cell. Studies the dynamics of protoplasm, membranes, and the various organelles. The mechanisms of cell growth and division, the relationship of the cytoskeleton to cell shape and motility, the interaction of the cell with its environment, and the processes that give rise to multicellular differentiated plants are investigated.

Outcome 1: Explain why the cell is the basic unit of life.

Outcome 2: Describe the natural laws that underlie the physicochemical behavior of cells.

Outcome 3: Explain cell behavior in physicochemical terms.

Outcome 4: Describe the diversity, morphology, function, chemistry, development, turnover, and evolution of organelles.

Outcome 5: Describe the physiological processes of cells, including mitosis, secretion, nutrient uptake, water movement, photosynthesis, respiration, growth, and adaptation to the environment. Evaluate the processes physicochemically.

Outcome 6: Examine cells with many types of microscopy and measure physicochemical properties of cells.

Outcome 7: Demonstrate proficiency in laboratory techniques used to study cells.