Biology 398B- Topics in Plant Development William Terzaghi & Zenaida Lopez-Dee

Tentative schedule, Spring 2010

Date                Topic(s)

1/ 18/10 (M)    Course overview & requirements; Key concepts in developmental biology

1/20/10 (W)     Overview of Plant Development; Model systems in plant development studies

1/22/10 (F)      Plant tissues and organ systems; Plant cell types and the cell wall

1/ 25/10 (M)    Cell lineages and positional information

1/27/10 (W)     Genetic basis of development

1/29/10 (F)      Cell intrinsic information; cell-cell communication

2/ 1/10 (M)      Cell cycle and its control

2/3/10 (W)       Developmental patterning and the cellular basis of morphogenesis

2/5/10 (F)        Endogenous growth regulators I (Auxins)

2/8/10 (M)       Endogenous growth regulators II (Cytokinins & Ethylene)

2/10/10 (W)     Endogenous growth regulators III (Gibberellins & Abscisic Acid)

2/12/10 (F)      Endogenous growth regulators IV (Brassinosteroids & jasmonates)

2/15/10 (M)     Light regulation of development

2/17/10 (W)     Molecular mechanisms for skoto- and photomorphogenesis

2/19/10 (F)      Other environmental growth regulators

2/22/10 (M)     First exam

2/24/10 (W)     Embryogenesis

2/26/10 (F)      Meristems and differentiation; Apical meristems

3/ 1/10 (M)      Vegetative growth & development

3/3/10 (W)       Leaf development: initiation, development and senescence

3/5/10 (F)        Root development . Draft Proposal due

SPRING RECESS

3/15/10 (M)     Vascular development and patterning

3/17/10 (W)     Transition to reproductive development

3/19/10 (F)      Inflorescence development

3/22/10 (M)     Genetics of flower development

3/24/10 (W)     Microsporogenesis

3/26/10 (F)      Megasporogenesis and megagametogenesis

3/29/10 (M)     Pollination and fertilization

3/31/10 (W)    Fruit development. Proposal due

HOLIDAY RECESS

4/7/10 (W)       Seed development; seed dormancy

4/9/10 (F)        Secondary growth and development

4/12/10 (M)     Second exam

4/14/10 (W)     Elective

4/16/10 (F)      Elective

4/19/10 (M)     Elective

4/21/10 (W)     Elective

4/23/10 (F)      Elective

4/26/10 (M)     Elective

4/28/10 (W)     Elective

4/30/10 (F)      Elective

5/3/10 (M)       Elective

5/5/10 (W)       Elective

Possible elective topics

1)    Evolutionary developmental biology – floral zygomorphy and symmetry evolution

2)    Development of modified plant structures: Krantz anatomy & C4 photosynthesis

3)    Development of modified plant structures: the legume nodule

4)    Development of modified plant structures: the potato tuber

5)    Development of modified plant structures: carnivorous plants

6)    Ecological developmental biology

7)    Need for mathematical modeling of plant development

8)    Cytoplasmic male sterility and other roles of organelles in development

9)    Commercial applications of plant development

10) Genetic engineering of plant development

11) Dicots vs monocots

Lab Schedule

 

1/22                 Plant tissues and organ systems

1/29                 Plant cell types and the cell wall

2/5                   Developmental patterning and the cellular basis of morphogenesis

2/12                 Endogenous growth regulators I

2/19                 Endogenous growth regulators II

2/26                 Embryogenesis; Meristems and differentiation

3/5                   Environmental regulation of development

3/19                 Vegetative development

3/26                 Flower development

4/9                   Gametogenesis; Pollination and fertilization

4/16                 Independent Project

4/23                 Independent Project

4/30                 Independent Project

5/5                   Independent Project