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Plant Biology

Degree course: 
Corso di First cycle degree in BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Academic year when starting the degree: 
2016/2017
Year: 
1
Academic year in which the course will be held: 
2016/2017
Course type: 
Compulsory subjects, characteristic of the class
Credits: 
6
Period: 
First Semester
Standard lectures hours: 
48
Detail of lecture’s hours: 
Lesson (48 hours)
Requirements: 

No prerequisites

Final Examination: 
Orale
Assessment: 
Voto Finale

The learning target of this course is to provide the knowledge necessary in order to understand the organizational and functional models of a higher plant organism (Angiosperm), and to achieve the skill necessary to understand studies which focus also upon practical-biotechnological approaches of plant biology. In regard to that it is possible to foresee the following learning results: to understand the structure and physiology of plant cell; the morphological and anatomical organization of a vascular plant in relation to its evolutionary process; the specificity of the reproductive mechanism in higher plants.

1.The plant cell
Cell wall: relation between chemical composition and function
Plasmodesmata and cytodieresis
Plastids: type, structure and composition in relation to its function.
Vacuole: function and chemical composition
Cell turgor
Growth due to elongation
2. Vegetative growth, sexual and sporogony reproduction
3. Sexuality and sex determination
4. Life cycle of organisms and apomixis processes
5. Tissues in Angiosperms
6. Morphology and anatomy of different organs in relation to the most important physiological processes:
Stem and xylem/phloem sap transportation, major plant movements.
Root and gravitropism, solution uptake, symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and mycorrhyzal fungi.
Leaf and transpiration control, photosyntesis in CAM plants
Flower and Angiosperm reproduction (pollination, pollen-pistil interaction, fertilization, mechanisms to avoid auto-fertilization), photoperiodism
Seeds and dormancy
Fruit and dissemination.

Lesson in the classroom

All the lessons will be posted on uninsubria e-learning site
Thefollowing text is recommended:
Biologia delle piante by Alison M. Smith et al.

Learning evaluation
Learning progression will be evaluated through in itinere exams during the course in relation to the most important topics presented above. In itinere exams will be carried out on-line within the e-learning environment and the results will be expressed in thirtieths. The evaluation will be based on the progression of the learning capacity, the ability of making use of the acquired knowledge, autonomous assessment and communication skills. The final vote will be expressed as a mean of the votes received with the in itinere exams.

Partitions