794-102 Plant Science I

Credit Points

HECS Band

Coordinator

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

The objective of this subject is to extend participants' ability to:

• identify various types of plant cells and their organelles;

• identify the various tissues of woody stems, roots and leaves;

• describe the movement of water and solutes through plants;

• provide descriptions of the processes of photosynthesis and respiration;

• describe the process of protein synthesis;

• describe the actions of enzymes and hormones;

• describe the reproductive processes in angiosperms;

• describe the gene concept and cell division in plants;

• apply the principles of Mendelian inheritance;

• discuss the role of genetics in the adaptations of plants to their environments;

• list the important characteristics of the divisions of the plant kingdom;

• discuss interactions between members of an ecological community;

The content includes: Cells of plants - Types of cells, organelles, cell division. Vegetative anatomy and growth of plants - Leaves, stems and roots, vascular transport and gaseous exchange. Biochemical processes in plants - Photosynthesis, respiration, growth and development. Reproduction in Angiosperms - Mitosis, meiosis, the gene concept, chromosomes and Mendelian genetics, protein synthesis and enzyme function. Natural selection - The interaction of genes and environment, introductory ecology, the plant kingdom.

Assessment

Theory examination 120 minutes (70%); practical examination of 60 minutes (30%).

Prescribed Texts

• Knox B, Ladiges P and Evans B, Biology. McGraw-Hill, Aust., 1995.