Code: | BIOL3007 | Acronym: | BIOL3007 | Level: | 300 |
Keywords | |
---|---|
Classification | Keyword |
OFICIAL | Biology |
Active? | Yes |
Responsible unit: | Department of Biology |
Course/CS Responsible: | Bachelor in Biology |
Acronym | No. of Students | Study Plan | Curricular Years | Credits UCN | Credits ECTS | Contact hours | Total Time |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
L:B | 39 | Official Study Plan | 3 | - | 6 | 48 | 162 |
This course represents a systems approach to plant development, organized on the basis of life-cycles events (embryogenesis, seedling development and flowering) and organ systems (root and shoot apices). It focuses on the mechanisms regulating plant growth, development and morphogenesis. Emphasis will be on pattern formation at cellular, tissue, and organ levels. Therefore, the course focuses on the study of plant structure and development by integrating recent advances in Genetics and Molecular Biology and describes molecular processes that underlie key plant developmental responses to environmental signals. The developmental processes of plant cell signalling to development (eg., cell cycle, differentiation, programmed cell death) is used in comparision with mechanisms regulating similar processes in other biological model cells (eg, animals).
At the end of the course, students should be able to describe the internal structures of the various organs of model organisms, the genes involved in organ formation, recognise and describe the developmental stages. Describe the mechanism behind the transition from vegetative to reproductive development in plants and the interplay between genes and environment, as well as integrate anatomy knowledge with molecular biology discoveries.
The student must also be able to compare the plant developmental biology with other biological models, namely animals (for example to compare mecanisms of signalling controlling processes of cell cycle, cell death and /or cell differentiation).
.
Module 1. Concept of development. Growth, differentiation and morphogenesis. Principles of pattern formation. Features unique to plant development. Positional information and cell fate in plant development. Cell cycle in plants; control of cell cycle. Cell polarity, cell division and development; unequal cell divisions and differentiation. Embryogenesis in land plants. Embryogenesis in Arabidopsis thaliana. Molecular and genetic mechanisms of embryo development. Pattern formation in embryogenesis. Apical-basal axis and radial axis. Postembryonic development. Apical meristems and organ formation. The origin of the primary root during embryogenesis. The control of patterning and morphogenesis during root development.
Shoot meristem formation in vegetative development; shoot apical meristem organization - layers and zones. Organ formation at the vegetative shoot meristem. Shoot apical meristem mutants and functioning of the shoot apical meristem. Transition from vegetative to flowering development in Arabidopis. Flower development; molecular genetics and the ABC model. Identification of floral homeotic genes. Cadastral functions of homeotic genes. Molecular functions of MADS box genes. Sex determination. Ovule development.
Module 2. Comparative studies of cellular processes associated to the development of different biological models: signaling and signal transduction regulating: a) cell cycle in plant cells vs. animal cells; programmed death (PCD) in plant vs animal cells. Examples of regulatory cascades associated with cell differentiation in plant cells and in animal cells. Markers for evaluating dynamics of cell cycle and PCD in plant and animal models (eg, TUNEL, ANNEXIN-V, caspases/caspase like pathways).
Theoretical lectures supported by multi-media aids and practical laboratory work.
designation | Weight (%) |
---|---|
Exame | 90,00 |
Trabalho laboratorial | 10,00 |
Total: | 100,00 |
designation | Time (hours) |
---|---|
Estudo autónomo | 40,00 |
Frequência das aulas | 40,00 |
Trabalho laboratorial | 20,00 |
Total: | 100,00 |
Enrollment in University courses requires regular class attendance as well as careful preparation. Therefore, students are expected to attend all their scheduled classes.
However, absences are allowed to a maximum of 25% of their possible classes. That is, if students attend less than 75% of their possible classes they are excluded from final assessment.
Theoretical
Written Exam covering Theoretical subjects (T), 20 points;
Practical Laboratory Work
Presentation and discussion of a practical laboratory work (P) graded to 2,0 points;
Written Exam covering Lab works (TP), 18 points;
FINAL GRADING = [2T+(P+TP)]/3
Minimum value in each component, 8 points
Students can chose between 2 partial examinations and a final exam.
.
.
Theoretical
Written Exam covering Theoretical subjects (T), 20 points;
Practical Laboratory Work
Written Exam covering Lab works (TP), 20 points;
FINAL GRADING = (2T+TP)/3
Minimum value in each component, 8 points
Theoretical
Written Exam covering Theoretical subjects (T), 20 points;
Practical Laboratory Work
Written Exam covering Lab works (TP), 20 points;
FINAL GRADING = (2T+TP)/3
Minimum value in each component, 8 points
This course is aimed at Biology students who have already taken molecular biology and genetics in order to apply the concepts in these areas to the developmental biology.