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Plant Biology

This is an archived copy of the 2021-2022 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.iastate.edu.

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(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 587Statistical Methods for Research Workers4
BBMB 316Principles of Biochemistry3
or BBMB 404 Biochemistry I
or
Amino Acids and Proteins
Bioenergetics and Metabolism
GDCB 513Plant Metabolism2
Two seminar presentations *
GDCB 545Plant Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology3
Take additional courses from the following
Crop Physiology
Preparing Publishable Thesis Chapters
Genetic Strategies in Plant Breeding
Biochemistry II
Molecular Signaling
Nucleic Acid Structure and Function
Biochemistry of Gene Expression in Eucaryotes
Plant Anatomy
Plant Ecology
Molecular Phylogenetics
Molecular Evolution
Transmission Genetics
Agrostology
Advanced Molecular Genetics
Advances in Molecular Cell Biology
Plant Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology

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 587Statistical Methods for Research Workers4
BBMB 404Biochemistry I3
or4
Amino Acids and Proteins
Bioenergetics and Metabolism
GDCB 513Plant Metabolism2
Four seminar presenatations *
One of the following
Biochemistry II
Advanced Molecular Genetics
Plant Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology
Take additional courses from the following
Crop Physiology
Preparing Publishable Thesis Chapters
PLBIO 513Plant Metabolism2
PLBIO 545Plant Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology3
PLBIO 696Research Seminar1
PLBIO 699Researcharr †
Genetic Strategies in Plant Breeding
Biochemistry II
Molecular Signaling
Nucleic Acid Structure and Function
Biochemistry of Gene Expression in Eucaryotes
Plant Anatomy
Plant Ecology
Molecular Phylogenetics
Molecular Evolution
Transmission Genetics
Advanced Molecular Genetics
Advances in Molecular Cell Biology
Plant Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology
† Arranged with instructor.

Requirements for students seeking Plant Biology as Minor:

STAT 587Statistical Methods for Research Workers4
BBMB 404Biochemistry I3
or4
Amino Acids and Proteins
Bioenergetics and Metabolism
9 credits from the following
Crop Physiology
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.

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Courses

Courses primarily for graduate students, open to qualified undergraduates:

(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.

(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:

(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.

Cr. arr. Repeatable.