This course is designed according to the newly revised CBMG graduate modular system and held at the second half of the fall semester (module #2). Starting on Oct 23th, the class will meet twice weekly. The format of the class will be a combination of professor lectures, student presentations, and class discussions. We will cover basic principles of modern genetics and development, the state-of-art technologies in plant research, Angiosperm structure, and green plant evolution. Grades will be based on one take-home mid-term exam (100 points), one student oral presentation (100 points), and one final research proposal (100 points). Student oral presentation will be graded based on inputs from the class. Active participation of class discussion and attendance will also be taken into account for the final grade.

Reference text books (optional)

(1) Molecular Genetics of Plant Development by Stephen Howard
(2) Mechanisms in Plant development by Ottoline Leyser, Steve Day
(3) Molecular Plant Development from gene to plant by Peter Westhoff

Syllabus

Oct 23 (M): Introduction and organization of the class
Oct 25 (W): Angiosperm structure (Dr. Todd Cooke)
Oct 30 (M): Green plant evolution (Dr. Todd Cooke)
Nov. 1 (W): Phylogenetic analyses (Dr. Charles Delwiche)
Nov. 6 (M): Forward genetics
Nov. 8 (W): Reverse genetics and molecular techniques I
Nov.13 (M): Molecular techniques II
Nov.15 (W): Emerging sequencing technologies

A take-home midterm exam will be posted (due on Nov. 27th)

Nov.22 (M): Meristem development and organ polarity
Nov.22 (W): Thanksgiving break
Nov.27 (M): Regulation of flowering and epigenetics
Nov.29 (W): Flower and leaf development
Dec. 4 (M): Root and embryo development
Dec. 6 (W): Student presentation I (Faten, Vid, Courtney, 40 minutes each)
Dec.11 (M): Student presentation II (Jianghong, Jung Min, Emily, 40 minutes each)
Dec.13 (W): To be determined
Dec.20 (W): Proposal due

Student presentations

Student oral presentations will be taking place on Monday Dec 6 and Wednesday Dec. 11. On each of those two days, three students will be giving powerpoint presentations. Each presentation will be about 25-30 minutes with 10-15 minute questions and discussion at the end. The presentation will be focused on a particular area of current plant research or a specific new technology. Topics will be suggested by Dr. Liu but can be chosen by students after consulting with Dr. Liu.

Suggested topics

Auxin as a morphogen
Flowering and florigen
Epigenetics in plant development
Genetic engineering of metabolites in plants for insect or herbivor protection
Chemical genetics and its application in plant research
MicroRNAs, their biogenesis and regulatory roles in development
SiRNAs, their biogenesis and application
Viral suppression of gene silencing
Programmed cell death in plant defense or development
Cell-cell communication in plants
Auxin transport mechanism
Plant lateral organ polarity determination
Altering the production of secondary metabolites (e.g. alkaloids) in plants
for foods or medicines (e.g. decaffinated coffee, scopalamine)
Development of DNA markers in determining plant relationships (Molecular Systematics)
Phytomediation

Guideline for the oral presentation

A. Summary of the field and background
--what are the major questions in the field?
--what are the hypotheses concerning these major questions?
--what are the approaches being used to address these questions and test the hypotheses?
--how the results from these experiments support or disapprove the specific hypotheses?

B. Future directions
--what is the next logical step in the field?
--are there any aspects of the field that you think are important in the field but are not being addressed?
--Are there any other possibilities (alternative hypotheses) that are not tested?
--how would the knowledge be useful in the future in commercial applications or overall understanding of how the plant works?

It is important to approach the research papers from an analytical point of view and hypothesis-driven rather than just providing a descriptive listing of items. Try to show what hypotheses are there, how the researchers tested the hypotheses, what approaches they have taken, and how the results support to disapprove the specific hypotheses.

We will have the computer and projector set-up for powerpoint presentation. Please bring a key drive with your powerpoint presentation to the class (5-10 minutes earlier to set up). Alternatively, you can bring your own computer. Diagrams and photos will be helpful for the audience and much appreciated. Please make sure that the color used provides enough contrast (yellow is a bad color) and that the word size are large enough.

Questionnaire for evaluating the presentations

Use 1 (least impressive) to 5 (most impressive) in answering following questions:

1. How is the general impression of the presentation?
2. How interesting is the topic?
3. Is the presentation clear in conveying the research question and approach, etc?
4. Is the presentation well organized?
5. Is the presenter easy to understand?
6. Is the quality of the powerpoint good for visualization?
7. Is the background information and the review thorough?
8. Is the presentation hypothesis-driven?
9. Is the presenter a lively speaker?
9. How well is the presenter at answering audience's questions?

Literature research

To choose topics of interest, it is best to look through short review articles or the latest research articles in Science, Nature, Nature Biotechnology, Nature Cell Biology, Trends in Plant research, Plant Cell, etc. Please discuss with Dr. Liu about your choice of topic and papers, so she can advise you. Please inform Dr. Liu your presentation title at least one week before your presentation.