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PSC102 Botany (8)

Abstract

This subject focuses on the flowering plants, the most successful plants on the planet and vital for our survival.

Lectures and hands-on practicals are closely aligned for on-campus students to maximise learning outcomes with an eye to future careers in the primary industries. We also have a vibrant merged on-line community with numerous resources such as customised web-based tutorials, and quizzes that prepare distance education students for a challenging fun residential school. We start by placing plants “centre stage” highlighting their intimate association with us, from domestication of important food species to plants of pharmacological significance. An overview of evolution and classification of the angiosperms places them in perspective with the other plants and stresses the importance of scientific approaches to their investigation. The topic ‘From molecules to cells’ deals first with the important molecules of life and then provides the structural basis in cells, for understanding the later units describing key concepts of photosynthesis, cell division and plant development. Topics are integrated so that connections are made between structure and function and links to later subjects are clear. Other topics include: cells, reproduction, tissues, organ systems, flowers, fruits, seeds, stems, roots and leaves. For viticulture and wine students we have developed additional images, resources and examples to demonstrate how these basic concepts apply to grapevines.
 

+ Subject Availability Modes and Location

Session 1
InternalCY O'Connor - Muresk Institute
InternalWagga Wagga Campus
Distance*Wagga Wagga Campus
*This subject offering contains a residential school. Please view following information for further details.
Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details: PSC102
Where differences exist between the Handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.

Subject information

Duration Grading System School:
One sessionHD/FLSchool of Agricultural and Wine Sciences

Enrolment restrictions

Students who have completed BIO126 or BIO127 cannot enrol in this subject.
Incompatible subject(s)
BIO126 BIO127

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
Be able to:
- demonstrate an understanding of the function and role of plants in relation to “us”
- demonstrate a developing knowledge and understanding of the evolution, structure and physiology of flowering plants
- accurately identify the structural, functional and developmental features of flowering plants of adaptive significance to terrestrial and aquatic habitats
 

Syllabus

The subject will cover the following topics:

- Unit 1: The science of botany; origins of agriculture, plants and people, taxonomy, evolution and research methodology

- Unit 2: From molecules to cells

- Unit 3: Energy and cell division – photosynthesis, respiration and how cells divide

- Unit 4: Plant structure, growth and development
- Unit 5: Angiosperm diversity and reproduction; flowers fruits and seeds

- Unit 6: Plant behaviour; hormones  and response to external stimuli

- Unit 7: Stems; form and function

- Unit 8: Roots: form function and nutrition through symbiotic relationships

- Unit 9: Leaves I: Leaf function and specializations

- Unit 10: Leaves II: Adaptations of photosynthetic metabolism & functions besides photosynthesis

Residential School

This subject contains a compulsory 4 day residential school. The Residential School Provides hands on examples of the theory taught within the subject.

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The information contained in the 2016 CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: 06 September 2016. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.