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Understanding Plants - Part II: Fundamentals of Plant Biology

Approx. 6 hours to complete

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Course Summary

This course provides an in-depth understanding of plant biology, including plant structure, function, and development, as well as the interactions between plants and their environment.

Key Learning Points

Gain a comprehensive understanding of plant biology
Learn about plant structure, function, and development
Understand the interactions between plants and their environment

Learning Outcomes

Understand the basics of plant biology
Identify different types of plants and their characteristics
Learn how plants adapt to their environment

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

Basic knowledge of biology
Interest in plants and botany

Course Difficulty Level

Intermediate

Course Format

Online
Self-paced
Video lectures

Similar Courses

Botany: An Introduction to Plant Biology
Plant Science: An Introduction to Botany
Plant Ecology

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Description

This class is aimed at people interested in understanding the basic science of plant biology. In this four lecture series, we'll first learn about the structure-function of plants and of plant cells. Then we'll try to understand how plants grow and develop, making such complex structures as flowers. Once we know how plants grow and develop, we'll then delve into understanding photosynthesis - how plants take carbon dioxide from the air and water from soil, and turn this into oxygen for us to breathe

and sugars for us to eat. In the last lecture we'll learn about the fascinating, important and controversial science behind genetic engineering in agriculture. If you haven't taken it already, you may also be interested in my other course - What A Plant Knows, which examines how plants see, smell, hear and feel their environment: https://www.coursera.org/learn/plantknows. In order to receive academic credit for this course you must successfully pass the academic exam on campus. For information on how to register for the academic exam – https://tauonline.tau.ac.il/registration Additionally, you can apply to certain degrees using the grades you received on the courses. Read more on this here – https://go.tau.ac.il/b.a/mooc-acceptance Teachers interested in teaching this course in their class rooms are invited to explore our Academic High school program here – https://tauonline.tau.ac.il/online-highschool

Outline

Course Introduction and Plant Cell Structure
Course Promo
1.1 All plants are made of cells
1.2 Different types of microscopy are used to study cells
1.3 Characteristics of plant cells
1.4 Plastids
1.5 The origin of chloroplasts
1.6 The cell wall
1.7 The vacuole and plasmodesmata
1.8 Vascular tissue - xylem
1.9 Vascular tissue – phloem
Before we begin
How to succeed in this course? PDF version
Suggested Reading - Week 1
Lecture 1 Quiz

Whole-Plant Structure
2.1 Plant organs
2.2 Apical meristems
2.3 Root structure and development
2.4 Shoot apical meristem and development
2.5 Flower development
2.6 Development is regulated by gene expression
Suggested Reading - Week 2
Lecture 2 Quiz

Photosynthesis
3.1 Chloroplast structure
3.2 Chemical currency: ATP and NADPH
3.3 Light and Photosynthesis
3.4 The light-dependent reactions and electron transfer
3.5 The Light-dependent Reactions and ATP
3.6 Phototsynthesis 2: The dark reactions and sugar synthesis
3.7 Discussion with Prof. Nir Ohad: The Carbon Cycle
3.8 Inside a photosynthesis lab
Suggested Reading - Week 3
Lecture 3 Quiz

Plant genetic engineering
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Cultivated foods and genetic changes
4.3 Conventional breeding and genetic engineering methods
4.4 Recombinant DNA technology
4.5 Transgenic plants - proof of concept
4.6 Case study: Genetic engineering in combating viruses in agriculture
4.7 Examples of genetic engineering: Nutritional benefits
4.8 Potential of genetic engineering: I Insect resistant plants
4.9 Concerns about the use of genetic engineering in agriculture
Suggested Reading - Week 4
Lecture 4 Quiz

Summary of User Reviews

Discover the fascinating world of plant biology with this comprehensive course from Coursera. Students rave about the engaging content and knowledgeable instructors. One key aspect that many users appreciate is the emphasis on real-world applications of plant biology.