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 |
or | ||
| Amino Acids and Proteins | ||
| Bioenergetics and Metabolism | ||
| GDCB 513 | Plant Metabolism | 2 |
| Two seminar presentations * | ||
| GDCB 545 | Plant Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology | 3 |
| Take additional courses from the following | ||
| Crop Physiology | ||
| Plant Genetics | ||
| Preparing Publishable Thesis Chapters | ||
| Genetic Strategies in Plant Breeding | ||
| Biochemistry II | ||
| Plant Biochemistry | ||
| Molecular Signaling | ||
| Membrane Biochemistry | ||
| Nucleic Acid Structure and Function | ||
| Biochemistry of Gene Expression in Eucaryotes | ||
| Plant Anatomy | ||
| Plant Ecology | ||
| Molecular Phylogenetics | ||
| Molecular Evolution | ||
| Transmission Genetics | ||
| Agrostology | ||
| Molecular Genetics | ||
| Advances in Molecular Cell Biology | ||
| Plant Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology | ||
| * | 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 |
| or | 4 | |
| Amino Acids and Proteins | ||
| Bioenergetics and Metabolism | ||
| GDCB 513 | Plant Metabolism | 2 |
| Four seminar presenatations * | ||
| One of the following | ||
| Biochemistry II | ||
| Molecular Genetics | ||
| Plant Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology | ||
| Take additional courses from the following | ||
| Crop Physiology | ||
| Plant Genetics | ||
| Preparing Publishable Thesis Chapters | ||
| PLBIO 513 | Plant Metabolism | 2 |
| PLBIO 545 | Plant Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology | 3 |
| PLBIO 696 | Research Seminar | 1 |
| PLBIO 699 | Research | arr † |
| Genetic Strategies in Plant Breeding | ||
| Biochemistry II | ||
| Plant Biochemistry | ||
| Molecular Signaling | ||
| Membrane Biochemistry | ||
| Nucleic Acid Structure and Function | ||
| Biochemistry of Gene Expression in Eucaryotes | ||
| Plant Anatomy | ||
| Plant Ecology | ||
| Molecular Phylogenetics | ||
| Molecular Evolution | ||
| Transmission Genetics | ||
| Molecular Genetics | ||
| Advances in Molecular Cell Biology | ||
| Plant Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology | ||
| † Arranged with instructor. | ||
| * | 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 |
| or | 4 | |
| Amino Acids and Proteins | ||
| Bioenergetics and Metabolism | ||
| 9 credits from the following | ||
| Crop Physiology | ||
| Plant Genetics | ||
| Plant Biochemistry | ||
| Plant Metabolism | ||
| Plant Molecular, Cell and Developmental 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 513. Plant Metabolism.
(Cross-listed with GDCB). (2-0) Cr. 2.
Alt. F., offered even-numbered years.
Prereq: BIOL 330, PHYS 111, CHEM 331; one semester of biochemistry recommended
Photosynthesis, respiration, and other aspects of plant metabolism.
PLBIO 545. Plant Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology.
(Cross-listed with GDCB, MCDB). (3-0) Cr. 3.
Alt. F., offered odd-numbered years.
Prereq: BIOL 313, BIOL 314, BIOL 330 or BBMB 405
Plant nuclear and organelle genomes; regulation of gene expression; hormone signaling; organization, function, and development of plant cells and subcellular structures; regulation of plant growth and development.
Courses for graduate students:
PLBIO 696. Research Seminar.
(Cross-listed with AGRON, BBMB, FOR, GDCB, HORT). 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.
