Description
The first half of the course fosters an understanding of the biology of higher plants with particular emphasis on structure/function relationships, developmental processes and the exploitation of plants by man.
A set of basic plant physiological processes are considered, with special reference to physiological modifications that have ecological and agricultural consequences.
There is a lecture on Arabidopsis which has become the model species for plant molecular genetic research.
Lectures on crop plants covers crop domestication and methods for crop improvement inclusing crop genetic engineering. Several lectures are devoted to plant life cycles and details of sexual reproduction.
Finally, we consider photosynthesis and its agricultural and aconomic importance. In the second half of the course you will consider definitions and methods to quantify animal and plant Biodiversity in its many forms.
You will consider the diversity of environments across the globe. The various anthropogenic pressures on these environments will be examined including habitat fragmentation, invasive species and pollution, in particular, emphasizing the effects of increased levels of greenhouse gases that are driving climate change.
A range of strategies will be considered to facilitate conservation fo the natural world and sustainable solutions in agricultural situations, including the use of GM crops.
Delivery
- 26 hours lectures
- 2 hours seminars
- 2 hours tutorials
- 1 hour demonstration
- 17 hours practicals
- 4 hours workshops
Assessment
- Coursework ( 20%)
- Exam (80%)
- Note that you must achieve 40% in the coursework and 40% in the exam to pass this module
- Reassessment is by exam only (coursework does not count towards the resit mark)