Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences

PLANT FORM AND FUNCTION
BIOLOGY 3325
Section TBAA
June 24 - July 22, 2009





Asclepias purpurascens L.
PURPOSE: A study of the anatomical, morphological, and physiological features of vascular plants; emphasizing the relationships between form and function. We will examine how plants acquire and allocate energy, water and nutrients; how external and internal factors influence hormones, which control and regulate all aspects of growth and development; and how they measure time, in order to coordinate growth and reproduction with seasonal changes in the environment. This information can be used to: complement the students’ coursework in other areas of biology, provide a foundation for additional study of plants at the graduate level, and enhance appreciation of these important organisms. Prereq. BIO 1101 & 1101L; Coreq. BIO L325

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Michael Woods, Professor of Botany and Curator (TROY)

OFFICE: MSCX 210B
OFFICE HOURS: Tuesday and Thursday 10:30-12:00. In order to see me during office hours, please schedule a time one day in advance. A sign up sheet is posted on my office door.

Telephone:
670-3403
email: mwoods@troy.edu

CLASS: MSCX 212, 8:00-10:20 a.m. M,T,W,T.

TEXT: Raven, P.H., R.F. Evert, and S.E. Eichhorn. 2005. Biology of Plants. 7th ed.

GRADING: 250 points:  three - 50 point quizzes & one - 100 point comprehensive final examination.
Letter grades determined according to the following:  A=90%,  B=80%,  C=70%,  D=60%,  F=<60%

COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Students will learn plant cell structure, tissue systems, reproduction, transport processes, carbon metabolism, hormones and plant growth, and energy relationships

DESIRED COMPETENCIES: Students will gain an understanding of plant form and function.

METHODS OF INSTRUCTION: Lecture format with some discussion.

COURSE POLICY:
Attendance: Roll will be taken for Troy University attendance records. Class attendance and participation are expected. These criteria will be used when determining final grades. Class begins PROMPTLY at 8:00 a.m. Students are expected to be in class on time and must have their cell telephones and beepers turned to the off position.

Cell Phones and Other Electronic Devices:
Use of any electronic devise by students in the instructional environment is prohibited
unless explicitly approved on a case-by-case basis by the instructor of record or by the Office of Disability Services in collaboration with the instructor. Cellular phones, pagers, and other communication devices may be used for emergencies, however, but sending or receiving non-emergency messages is forbidden by the University. Particularly, use of a communication device to violate the Troy University “Standards of Conduct” will result in appropriate disciplinary action (See the Oracle.) In order to receive emergency messages from the University or family members, the call receipt indicator on devices must be in the vibration mode or other unobtrusive mode of indication. Students receiving calls that they believe to be emergency calls must answer quietly without disturbing the teaching environment. If the call is an emergency, they must move unobtrusively and quietly from the instructional area and notify the instructor as soon as reasonably possible. Students who are expecting an emergency call should inform the instructor before the start of the instructional period.

Examinations:  Exams given during the semester will be closed book.  When the end of the exam period is announced, you are expected to put down your pens and turn in the exam or it will not be accepted.  Cell Phones and other electronic devices are expected to be turned off and put away to during examinations.  A 10% penalty will be given if your cell phone or pager rings during an exam.  You may not leave the room for any reason during an exam. 

Make-Up Exams: ALL make-up exams must be completed within one week of the original scheduled examination or a zero will automatically be assigned for the missed exam. The date and time of the make-up exam will be determined by the professor.  If the make-up exam is missed, no second make-up will be given and the student will receive a grade of zero for the exam.  All make-up exam will be of a different format from the original scheduled exam. In order for the examination to be excused, the student must contact the professor prior to the scheduled examination and have a physician’s or university (example: athletic function or band function) written excuse. A simple note verifying a medical visit is not sufficient. A 10% penalty will be assessed to makeup's that are unexcused. A student that misses two or more exams that are unexcused will not be allowed to take the second make-up and will receive a grade of F or FA in the course.  Make-up exams are not given for the final.  

Exam Material: Lecture questions will be drawn from information given to the student in lecture, computer programs, reading from the text, and assigned outside reading (even if the assigned material is not discussed in lecture).

Academic Code:
Any student caught cheating or plagiarising on an assignment or examination will receive a zero on the assignment. The action to be taken against the student will be determined after consultation with the department head and other appropriate individuals.

Incompletes: Will be given only in special circumstances. See Bulletin for guidelines.

Teaching Certificate: All students seeking a recommendation for a teaching certification must complete this course with an earned grade of “C” or better.

This syllabus is subject to change without notice. Students will be informed of any changes at the earliest date.
                                                                                                                                                 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Troy University supports Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which insure that postsecondary students with disabilities have equal access to all academic programs, physical access to all buildings, facilities and events, and are not discriminated against on the basis of disability. Eligible students, with appropriate documentation, will be provided equal opportunity todemonstrate their academic skills and potential through the provision of academic adaptations and reasonable accommodations. Further information, including appropriate contact information, can be found at the link for Troy University’s Office of Human Resources at http://www.troy.edu/humanresources/ADAPolicy2003.htm

IMPORTANT DATES :                                                                                        
June 29, Monday: Last Day to Add a course
June 29, Monday: Last Day to Drop a Course 
June 29, Monday: Last Day to Withdraw or Drop without Academic Penalty
July 21, Monday: Last Day to Withdraw or Drop with Academic Penalty
July 21, Tuesday: Classes End
July 22, Wednesday from 8:00-10:20: FINAL
LECTURE TOPICS

Date Topic Text Readings
Week 1

6/24-25

Introduction
Plant morphology: vegetative structures
Plant cell structure I: organelles
Plant cell structure I: cell walls
1-13; 559-560
547; 575-579
35-52
52-58
Week 2 

6/29-7/2

 

Taxonomy, Embryogenesis, seeds and germination
Primary meristems and tissue types
Stem anatomy
Woody stem anatomy
Leaf anatomy
Quiz 1
497-509
510-527
547-559
580-601
559-570
Week 3

7/6-9

Root morphology and primary growth
Root anatomy and secondary growth
Floral morphology; inflorescence, Pollination
Sporogenesis and Gametogenesis
Fruits
Biochemical coevolution
Quiz 2
528-538
538-546; 570-571
434-451; 456-465
442-450; 571-575
465-470
471-474
Week 4

7/13-16

Transport
Photosynthesis
Introduction to plant hormones & Auxins
Cytokinins and Ethylene
Abscisic Acid and Gibberellins
Quiz 3
680-686
115-139
603-608
608-612
612-615
Week 5

7/20-21

Additional Chemical Signals/Minor Hormones
Environmental Factors & Plant Growth
Circadian Rhythms
Photoperiodism and nastic movements and Review
604-605
622-627
627-629
629-644
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