PDF version of the syllabus

Prerequisites: Botany LS1105 or SI2104
Lecture: TuTh, 8:30-9:45 in SL421
Instructor: Dr. S. Harley; e-mail: sharley@weber.edu; Office: SL409M, 626-7434; Office hours: 10:00-11:00, M-F or by appointment
Botany Department Office: SL402M, 626-6174

Course description:
A study of the structure, function, and biogenesis of the major subcellular structures of plant cells.

Course format:
Three hours of lecture per week with some lab demonstrations. Planned demonstrations include histochemistry, electrophoresis, chromatography, and DNA isolation.

Course Objectives:
1. To build on prior knowledge of plant cell structure and function obtained in an introductory Botany course.
2. To increase appreciation of the special structures of plant cells: plastids, cell walls, vacuoles.
3. To increase appreciation for what the functions of cells and organelles can tell you about the overall functions of tissues, organs, and whole plants.
4. To increase appreciation for what the functions of tissues, organs, and whole plants can tell you about the cells and organelles that found are in these structures.
5. To understand the techniques used to learn about cell structure and function.
6. To be able to interpret data obtained from observations of and experiments on plant cells and organelles.
7. To support the goals of the Botany Student Portfolio with regard to skills development. To this end, you will have writing assignments geared toward the development of critical thinking skills, and you will give an oral report.

Students with disabilities:
Any student requiring accommodations or services due to a disability must contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) in room 181 of the Student Services Center. SSD can arrange to provide course materials in alternative formats, if necessary.

Student Behavior:
This class meets in a laboratory room. Therefore, food and drink are prohibited. Feet must be in enclosed shoes. On the days we have lab demonstrations, you will need to follow the lab safety guidelines given in Botany SI2104.
You are expected to comply with the Botany Department Statement of Expectations of Students.

Course materials:
There is no required textbook for this class. However, you should have access to a general botany textbook. If you no longer have a copy of Biology of Plants (used in LS110 and 112) or Botany (used in LS1105 and SI2104), the following general botany books are on reserve in the Stewart Library for Botany LS1203 (Plant Biology). You will need to use the index and the expanded table of contents to find relevant material in the different textbooks.

Raven RH, Evert RF, Eichhorn SE. 1999. Biology of Plants, 6th ed. WH Freeman and Co., New York.

Stern KR. 2000. Introductory Plant Biology, 8th ed. McGraw-Hill, Boston.

In addition to the books listed above, you might find the following online hypertextbooks useful.

Introduction:    
    Cell Theory
    Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic Cells
    Endosymbiont Theory

Basic Chemistry:      
    Atoms
    Covalent Bonds, Hydrogen Bonds, Ionic Bonds
    Oxidation/Reduction
    Condensation/Hydrolysis

Biomolecules:    
    Carbohydrates
    Lipids
    Nucleotides and Nucleic Acids
    Amino Acids and Proteins
    Organic Acids  
    Lignin 
    Porphyrins:  chlorophylls, cytochromes  
    Secondary Metabolites

Membranes:    
    Compartmentation of Metabolism
    Structure
    Transport processes

Plant Cells and Tissues

Overview of Organelles and Other Cellular Structures:
    Cell Walls
    Middle Lamella
    Plasmodesmata
    Plasma Membrane
    Nucleus and Nuclear Envelope
    Ribosomes
    Endoplasmic Reticulum
    Golgi Apparatus
    Vacuoles and Tonoplast
    Microbodies: Glyoxysomes and Peroxisomes
    Cytosol
    Plastids
    Mitochondria    

Techniques used to study cells:  
    Microscopy 
            Tissue Print Lab (PDF), Hand Sectioning
    Cell fractionation
    Macromolecule Techniques:  Electrophoresis, Chromatography, Antibodies 
    Radioactive Isotopes

DNA:  Structure, replication

Gene Expression:  
    Transcription
    Translation:  free ribosomes, ER-associated ribosomes

Protein Targeting

Techniques used to study cells:
    Mutants
    Recombinant DNA
    Model systems

Respiration and related carbon metabolism
    Glycolysis
    Fermentation
    Krebs (TCA) Cycle
    Electron Transport Chain
    Oxidative Phosphorylation
    Phosphogluconate Pathway
    Importance of Intermediates ("carbon skeletons")
    β-Oxidation and Gluconeogenesis

Photosynthesis
    Light Reactions
    Calvin Cycle
    Photorespiration
    C4 Photosynthesis
    CAM

Plastids:  Functions Other Than Photosynthesis
    Starch Synthesis
    Fatty Acid Synthesis
    Amino Acid Synthesis
    Nitrogen Assimilation
    Sulfur Assimilation

Cell Walls

Programmed Cell Death and Other Post-Maturation Changes