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Frontiers in Plant Biology

Module description

This is an advanced level module to reinforce your understanding and appreciation of concepts at the frontier of plant and algal biology. Current global environmental change severely impacts photosynthetic organisms on land and in the oceans and threatens both biodiversity and food security. Understanding the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms and strategies that underpin adaptation to the environment is therefore at the forefront of plant biology. This module will highlight the advances and opportunities through greater understanding of plant-environment interactions, including cross-kingdom encounters (eg host-pathogen interactions). The module aims to build a comprehensive understanding of the trends in plant science research and will also examine how scientific advances can help fight the threats to biodiversity and food security. In addition to the interactive lectures and group discussions, you will deliver a presentation developing your oral communication skills.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module aims to build on your understanding of plant biology, exploring the frontiers of plant and algal biology in relation to the challenges plants face through environmental change, host-pathogen interactions and the impact this has on biodiversity and food security. Focussing on the emerging scientific literature on photosynthetic organisms on land and in the oceans, this module will introduce you to the evolving paradigms in plant biology with a broader outlook on the implications and their potential in dealing with the major challenges that humanity faces.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental concepts in plant form and function
• 2. Demonstrate an appreciation of the impact (and implications) of climate change on plant life, and an understanding of the approaches for ensuring food security and climate resilience

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. Critically evaluate and appreciate the significance of emerging primary literature
• 4. Understand and apply major concepts in biology

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. Form own opinions about emerging research and effectively communicate and discuss your ideas in a group
• 6. Develop the ability to critically evaluate scientific literature and present evidence-based conclusions orally and/or in writing.
• 7. Independently evaluate and interpret novel research data and synthesize fundamental principles.

Syllabus plan

Theme 1: Plants in the environment: Explore plant life in the context of their environment. Understanding how plants respond and adapt to their biotic (pathogens) and abiotic environments.  Gain an in-depth understanding of the mechanisms and strategies that underpin environmental adaptation such as phenotypic plasticity and epigenetics. Explore how global environmental change impact plant life in the field and the wild. Explore how developments in genomic technologies enables biologists to answer fundamental questions and to help face global challenges.

Theme 2: Plants for future: Explore strategies and tools for developing plants for the future - to ensure food security and for conserving biodiversity.

Theme 3: Green life in the oceans: Explore the emerging themes in algal biology to understand the ecological and evolutionary significance of algae in marine ecosystems. 

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons that are approved by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. If deferred, the format and timing of the re-assessment for each of the summative assessments is detailed in the table above ('Details of re-assessment'). The mark given for a deferred assessment will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral - if you have failed the module (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) and the module cannot be condoned, you will be required to complete a re-assessment for each of the failed components on the module. The format and timing of the re-assessment for each of the summative assessments is detailed in the table above ('Details of re-assessment'). If you pass the module following re-assessment, your module mark will be capped at 50%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

No basic text books cover the diverse and contemporary nature of the lecture material. Lecturers will provide specific reading lists or .pdfs uploaded to ELE as appropriate.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE page

Key words search

Plant-environment interaction, phenotypic plasticity, epigenetics, environmental signalling, plant-pathogen interactions, plant immunity, climate change, food security, crop improvement, Algal biology, phytoplankton, genomics