KENYON COLLEGE BIO 345: BIOPHYSICAL PROCESSES IN PLANTS  Fall 2001  MWF 9:10  Higley Rm 105      Instructor:  K. Edwards    Higley Rm 214    PBX 5398, 5654    E-mail: EDWARDSR

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   Taiz, L. and E. Zieger.  Plant Physiology, 2nd Edition.  Sinauer Associates, Inc, Massachusetts.  1998.

  This course concerns the study of the organization, operation and modification of  processes in the plant that order its development and behavior--the life of the plant. We will consider what has and continues to intrigued researchers in this field; what is better (and some of what is least) understood of the biochemical functions which regulate and promote germination, growth, development, maturation, reproduction, plant defenses, and even death of plants; and how researchers have designed experiments, interpreted data, and envisioned the life of the plant at the cellular level and its integration into the cellular complex we call a plant.   These considerations can involve our exploring the power of  physical principles and mathematical equations to model plant physiological phenomena at the cellular and  whole organism levels of function, coordination, and interaction.
  Interest in the physiological functions of plant architectural life frequently is overshadowed by a driving interest in mechanistic physiology, the physiology of animals.  With fewer researchers and less monetary support for plant investigations along with research difficulties resulting from the architectural nature of plants, progress in our understanding of plant physiology has lagged behind the great strides made in animal physiology.  Many students often feel that plant physiological processes are simple and not as intriguing as those of animals.  Hopefully, what you will discover is that the processes governing plant life are as complicated and challenging and the research as controversial and exciting as that of animals or bacteria.
  This course will stress research approaches and controversies both current and past.  Plant functions will be considered from several levels: biochemical-molecular, cellular, organ, whole plant, and in some instances ecological.  It is hoped that you will emerge from this course with a grasp of the problems and solutions inherent to survival and growth of life that has an architectural basis as distinct from the mechanistic and determinant habit of animals.

Requirements:
 Requirements and pedagogy for this course may change following class discussion and periodic assessments.
 1. 40% = 2 exams --one may be take home (these must be turned in on time     or they will not be graded.....no exceptions)
 2. 20% = short assignments and problem sets.
 3.  30% = Project (see below)
 4.  5% = Participation in class.
 
Projects can be one of two types:
A. A tutorial HTML module on a hot topic in plant physiology worthy of display at the PLANT PORTICO and presented to the class. ww2.kenyon.edu/depts/biology/edwards/portico.htm
 B. An oral presentation and critique of 2-4 pivotal primary research papers using Powerpoint.

Evaluation of your achievement is based on:
? your understanding of hypotheses and experimental results relating to plant physiology,
?your ability to express yourself in a scientific fashion,
?your willingness to question results and interpretations,
?your development of ability to integrate various levels of knowledge (molecular to organ, for example),
?your effort to reflect on the material, your participation in discussion, and
?your congenial and enthusiastic attitude.

? Assignments received late:
 Assignments WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED past the due date unless unmitigating circumstances have intervened that would be deemed an excuse by the Dean of Students.  Persons not obtaining an extension from me will not have work accepted past the due date and 0/100 pts will be recorded.

? On plagiarism and academic dishonesty:
 Know the Kenyon College rules on academic honesty described in the2001-2002 Course of Study Handbook, pp. 26-29.
 Please understand that citing an author in your text in scientific fashion (see Bio 109 guidelines to writing a paper) does NOT suffice as documentation for quoting directly or essentially paraphrasing the words of another.  In the cases of using words of another or closely paraphrasing, you must use quotes as well as in-text citing.
 

 KENYON COLLEGE
 BIO 345: BIOPHYSICAL PROCESSES IN PLANTS
 Fall 2001
  MWF 9:10am     Higley  Rm 105
 
      Taiz, L. and E. Zeiger.  Plant Physiology, 2nd ed.  1998

Note: The lecture/discussion material will often not match the syllabus.  The syllabus provides a timetable to guide you towards accomplishing the reading of the entire text. I may redirect your reading schedule to better suit our lecture/discussions when appropriate.  Dr E

                  

WEEK OF:	SUBJECT	READING
Aug 27	Introduction: re-creating the syllabus                    Plant physiology ..What has evolution made   exquisite in plants?   Plant cells and Cell walls	Ch. 1, 2
Sept 3	Water and plant cells	3, 4
Sept 10	Mineral needs and transport	5, 6, 12
Sept 17	Carbon nutrition: the magic of photosynthesis	7
Sept 24	The magic of photosynthesis	8
Oct 1	The magic of photosynthesis	9
Oct 8	READING DAY
Oct 10	Moving, storing, and utilizing the precious product	10, 11
Oct 15	The magic of signaling: Plant defenses	13
Oct 22	Plant resistance and signal transduction	14, 25
Oct 29	The cell wall as barrier: defense and growth	15, 16
Nov 5	The magic of signaling: Light and growth	17, 18
Nov 12	More signaling magic: Plant growth regulators	19
Nov 17-25	THANKSGIVING BREAK
Nov 26	Plant growth regulators	20, 21
Dec 3	Plant growth regulators	22, 23
Dec 10	Last day of class: Final Projects DUE and Completed

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