Undergraduate - UnitBIO2282 - Plant structure and function

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2013 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

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Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Science
Organisational Unit	School of Biological Sciences
Offered	Clayton Second semester 2013 (Day)
Coordinator(s)	Dr Slobodanka Stojkovic

Synopsis

This unit deals with the structure and function of plants at different levels of organisation from the cellular to the whole plant. Topics include general plant structure and anatomy, and structural adaptations of plants to different environments. Aspects of plant function and physiology include nutrient and water uptake and transport, gas exchange and assimilation processes and how plant function, plant growth and plant form are modified by interactions with the environment. The link between structure and function of plants is stressed throughout this unit.

Outcomes

On completion of this unit students will be able to:

Describe the basic plan of higher plant anatomy, structure and morphology, the typical organization of cells and tissues found in different plant parts and common modifications found in Australian plants;

Explain the basic physiology and biochemistry underlying core processes in plants, including uptake and processing of nutrients from the soil, uptake of water and its passage through the plant, photosynthesis and its regulation;

Explain how plant growth and development is regulated by internal factors, particularly plant hormones;

Understand the key influence of the external environment in short- and long-term modification of plant physiology and form;

Demonstrate a critical, analytical approach to scientific research and show skills in writing scientific reports.

Assessment

Theory examination (Two 1-hour exams): 40%
Practical: 40%
Essay: 10%
Miniquizzes: 10%.

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Slobodanka Stojkovic

Contact hours

Two 1-hour lectures and one 3-hour practical per week (or equivalent)

Prerequisites

BIO2181 or permission