Plant Biology
(Interdepartmental Graduate Major)
The Interdepartmental Plant Biology major (IPB) coordinates graduate education and research in the areas of plant biology including but not limited to plant biochemistry, plant cellular and molecular biology and plant physiology. Graduate study in IPB, leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. Degrees, is offered through eight participating departments: Agronomy, Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Chemistry, Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Genetics Development & Cell Biology, Horticulture, and Plant Pathology.
Research conducted by the faculty and students of the major represents both basic and applied aspects of plant physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology. The experimental approaches represented in the major span the range of complexity from molecular studies, to cellular, organismal and the ecological level (crop monocultures and natural populations). Graduates have a broad understanding of basic, functional plant biology with emphases on fundamental biology, biochemistry, and molecular biology. They are able to address complex research and policy problems in agriculture, biotechnology, and basic plant biology.
All M.S. candidates take a core curriculum comprising courses recommended from the following four categories, attend research seminars, research credits (PLBIO 699 Research), annual Loomis Distinguished Lecture in Plant Biology and mini-symposium and retreats. Students will take additional courses of interest as directed by their Program of Study (POS) Committee members.
A total of 36 credits including a minimum of 16 course credits are required for a M.S.
(1) Complete the following core courses:
| STAT 401 | Statistical Methods for Research Workers | 4 |
| BBMB 404 | Biochemistry I | 3-4 |
| or BBMB 501 | Comprehensive Biochemistry I | |
| GDCB 513 | Plant Metabolism | 2 |
| Two seminar presentations * | ||
| One of the following | ||
| Plant Growth and Development | ||
| Plant Cell Biology | ||
| Take additional courses from the following | ||
| Crop Physiology | ||
| Plant Genetics | ||
| Publishing in Biological Sciences Journals | ||
| Advanced Topics in Plant Physiology and Biochemistry | ||
| Genetic Strategies in Plant Breeding | ||
| Biochemistry II | ||
| Comprehensive Biochemistry II | ||
| Plant Biochemistry | ||
| Molecular Signaling | ||
| Membrane Biochemistry | ||
| Nucleic Acid Structure and Function | ||
| Biochemistry of Gene Expression in Eucaryotes | ||
| Genomic Data Processing | ||
| Plant Anatomy | ||
| Plant Ecology | ||
| Molecular Phylogenetics | ||
| Molecular Evolution | ||
| Transmission Genetics | ||
| Agrostology | ||
| Molecular Genetics | ||
| Plant Growth and Development | ||
| Advances in Molecular Cell Biology | ||
| Plant Cell Biology | ||
| Plant Molecular Biology | ||
| Light Microscopy | ||
| Scanning Electron Microscopy | ||
| Transmission Electron Microscopy | ||
| * | enroll each term in the Interdepartmental Plant Biology seminar PLBIO 696 Research Seminar or its listed equivalent. The first seminar must be during the student's first year and is a 20-minute seminar. The last presentation must be an exit seminar. |
All Ph.D. candidates take a core curriculum comprising courses recommended from the following four categories, attend research seminars, research credits (PLBIO 699 Research), annual Loomis Distinguished Lecture in Plant Biology and mini-symposium and retreats. Students will take additional courses of interest as directed by their Program of Study (POS) Committee members.
A total of 72 credits including a minimum of 24 course credits are required for a Ph.D.
| STAT 401 | Statistical Methods for Research Workers | 4 |
| BBMB 404 | Biochemistry I | 3-4 |
| or BBMB 501 | Comprehensive Biochemistry I | |
| GDCB 513 | Plant Metabolism | 2 |
| Four seminar presenatations * | ||
| One of the following | ||
| Biochemistry II | ||
| Comprehensive Biochemistry II | ||
| Molecular Genetics | ||
| Plant Molecular Biology | ||
| One of the following | ||
| Plant Growth and Development | ||
| Plant Cell Biology | ||
| Take additional courses from the following | ||
| Crop Physiology | ||
| Plant Genetics | ||
| Publishing in Biological Sciences Journals | ||
| Advanced Topics in Plant Physiology and Biochemistry | ||
| Genetic Strategies in Plant Breeding | ||
| Biochemistry II | ||
| Comprehensive Biochemistry II | ||
| Plant Biochemistry | ||
| Molecular Signaling | ||
| Membrane Biochemistry | ||
| Nucleic Acid Structure and Function | ||
| Biochemistry of Gene Expression in Eucaryotes | ||
| Genomic Data Processing | ||
| Plant Anatomy | ||
| Plant Ecology | ||
| Molecular Phylogenetics | ||
| Molecular Evolution | ||
| Transmission Genetics | ||
| Molecular Genetics | ||
| Plant Growth and Development | ||
| Advances in Molecular Cell Biology | ||
| Plant Cell Biology | ||
| Plant Molecular Biology | ||
| Light Microscopy | ||
| Scanning Electron Microscopy | ||
| Transmission Electron Microscopy | ||
| * | enroll each term in the Interdepartmental Plant Biology seminar PLBIO 696 Research Seminar or its listed equivalent. The first seminar must be during the student's first year and is a 20-minute seminar. The last presentation must be an exit seminar. |
Requirements for students seeking Plant Biology as Minor:
| STAT 401 | Statistical Methods for Research Workers | 4 |
| BBMB 404 | Biochemistry I | 3 |
| BBMB 501 | Comprehensive Biochemistry I | 4 |
| 9 credits from the following | ||
| Crop Physiology | ||
| Plant Genetics | ||
| Plant Biochemistry | ||
| Plant Growth and Development | ||
| Plant Metabolism | ||
| Plant Cell Biology | ||
| Plant Molecular Biology | ||
In addition to the required core courses, a wide selection of courses is available to IPB graduate students for broadening their scientific education. Decisions about which courses are taken and when they are taken are made by the student, initially in consultation with his or her temporary advisor, and then with his or her major advisor and eventually with the POS Committee, which also serves as the Thesis or Dissertation Committee.
Courses
Courses primarily for graduate students, open to qualified undergraduates:
PLBIO 512. Plant Growth and Development.
(Cross-listed with MCDB, GDCB). (2-0) Cr. 2.
S.
Prereq: BIOL 330 or a course in developmental biology; GDCB 545 or BBMB 404, BBMB 405 or GDCB 520
Plant growth and development and its molecular genetic regulation. Hormone biosynthesis, metabolism, and action. Signal transduction in plants.
PLBIO 513. Plant Metabolism.
(Cross-listed with GDCB). (2-0) Cr. 2.
F.
Prereq: BIOL 330, PHYS 111, CHEM 331; one semester of biochemistry recommended
Photosynthesis, respiration, and other aspects of plant metabolism.
PLBIO 545. Plant Molecular Biology.
(Cross-listed with MCDB, GDCB). (3-0) Cr. 3.
Alt. F., offered 2011.
Prereq: BIOL 314, BIOL 330
Organization and function of plant nuclear and organelle DNA; regulation of gene expression. Methods of generating novel genetic variation. Impact of plant biotechnology on agriculture.
Courses for graduate students:
PLBIO 696. Research Seminar.
(Cross-listed with AGRON, BBMB, GDCB, HORT, FOR). Cr. 1.
Repeatable. F.S.
Research seminars by faculty and graduate students.
Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only.
PLBIO 699. Research.
Cr. arr.
Repeatable.
