Course Descriptions and Links

Department of Plant Biology
Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Current 2007-2008 Graduate Catalog (pdf document HERE)

Undergraduates may enroll in 100 through 400-level courses.
Graduate students can receive graduate credit for 400 through 600-level courses.

General and Introductory Courses


115-3 General Biology (University Core Curriculum, = Zoology 115): Introduction to fundamental biological concepts for non-life science majors interested in learning about interrelationships of human, plant and animal communities. Integrated lecture and laboratory cover topics that include structure and function of living systems, reproduction and inheritance, evolution, biological diversity and environmental biology. Laboratory applies scientific methods to the study of living systems.
117-3 Plants and Society (University Core Curriculum): The relationship between plants and human society: historical and modern applications of plants to the human experience; centers of botanical origins and domestication of crop plants; theories on active plant and crop conservation; medicinal plants; making sound decisions on current and future problems of the environment; and plant genetics and biotechnology. Labs will include: hands-on experimentation; field work in natural plant communities, supermarkets and farmer's market; and visitations to plant research facilities. A field trip fee will be assessed.
200-4 General Plant Biology: An introduction to Plant Biology. Emphasis is placed on structure and development and associated physiological phenomena. Consideration also is given to basic aspects of plant genetics, classification, evolution, ecology, and conservation. Three lectures and one 2-hour laboratory per week.
301i-3 Environmental Issues in the Contemporary World (University Core Curriculum): Fundamental biological and ecological processes important in the individual, population and community life of organisms integrating with the philosophical and ethical relationships of the contemporary, domestically diverse human society are examined. Emphasis is placed on a pragmatic understanding of environmental issues. Prerequisite: strongly recommend completion of core science requirements.
303i-3 Evolution and Society (University Core Curriculum): An introduction to the basics of biological evolution and the effect of biological evolution on society. Historical and modern interpretations of biological evolution on the human experience will be developed. This will include legal, political, reli-gious, scientific, racist, sexist, philosophical and educational aspects. Topics will be covered via discus-sions, presentations, papers and debates. Prerequisite: strongly recommend completion of core science requirement.

Ecology Node Courses

337-2 Ecology Laboratory: Techniques in vegetation analysis and environmental measurements. One four-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite: Biology 307 or equivalent.
360-3 Introductory Biostatistics: Introduction to basic statistical concepts and methods as applied to biological data. Includes descriptive techniques such as measures of central tendency variability, hypothesis testing, analysis of variance, and simple linear regression. Computer analysis and report writing will be required.
435-3 Plant-Insect Interactions.: Plants and insects have played major roles influencing each other's evolutionary diversification. This course will be an evolutionary and ecological examination of the interactions between plants and insects. Topics include herbivory, pollination relationships, ant-plant mutualisms, host plant choice, specilization vs. generalized relationships; seed and fruit dispersal, coevolution/cospeciation, and chemical ecology. Prerequisite: Biology 200a, b or equivalent, Biology 307 or equivalent.
439-2 Natural Areas and Rare and Endangered Species: Evaluation of the natural area preservation concept with emphasis on how to detect natural areas and methods to preserve them. Emphasis on the rare and endangered species program, its significance, and its methodology. Prerequisite: 304, Biology 307.
440-3 Grassland Ecology: A study of grassland structure and function in relation to various biotic and abiotic factors. Cost of field trips ($5) and textbooks must be incurred by the student. Prerequisite: 304 and Biology 307 or equivalent.
443-4 Resoration Ecology: Ecological restoration tests current understanding of ecosystem assembly and function. This course applies ecological theory to restoration, with an emphasis on factors influencing plant community assembly and evaluating restoration success. Two lectures a week and one four hour lab alternate weeks. Lab fee: $15. Prerequisite: Biology 307 or equivalent.
444-4 Quantitative Ecology (Ecology and Analysis of Communities): Includes concepts and methods pertaining to the analysis of ecological data. Approaches will include quantitative methods for classifying, ordinating, and describing structure of communities. Laboratory will include the computer application of these concepts and methods to field situations. Prerequisite: 360, Biology 307 or consent of instructor.
445-4 Wetland Plant Ecology: Provides students with experience in wetland plant ecology with an emphasis on wetland functioning, field sampling, and identification of common wetland plants. Travel fee for field trips is $10. Prerequisite: 200, 304, Biology 307, or consent of instructor.
452A-4 Plant Population Ecology: The principles of plant population ecology including the spatial, age, size and genetic structures of plant populations. The origin of these different kinds of population structure, their influences upon each other, and their temporal dynamics. Prerequisite: Biology 307 or consent of instructor.

545-3 Ecosystem Ecology: Fundamentals of and human modification to atmospheric chemistry and cycling of major nutrients in terrestrial ecosystems are covered in the context of global change. Laboratory exercises provide methodology and analytical approaches to studying ecosystem structure and function. Two lectures a week and one four-hour lab alternate weeks. Lab fee: $15. Prerequisite: one year of general chemistry and general ecology or equivalent.

546-2 Nutrient Cycling Methods: Research in ecosystem ecology requires a basic understanding of biochemistry. Analytical methodology used to study pools and transformations of major nutrients in terrestrial ecosystems, applicable to freshwater systems, will be the focus of this laboratory course. Three hour laboratory every other week. Prerequisites: 545 or concurrent enrollment, inorganic chemistry and general ecology or equivalent.

557-4 Biostatistics (= Zoology 557)

Basic biostatistical procedures used by researchers in life sciences and related fields. Topics include descriptive statistics, probability and distributions, statistical models, likelihood methods, experimental design, analysis of variance, regression, correlation, and the use of statistical software.

558-4 Advanced Biostatistics (= Zoology 558)

Advanced biostatistical procedures used by researchers in life sciences and related fields. Topics include multiple and logistic regression, randomization tests, jackknife and bootstrap. Mantel tests, BACI designs, MANOVA, repeated measures analysis, and the use of statistical software. Prerequisite: 557 or equivalent, Zoology 557,

Systematics and Biodiversity Node Courses


300-4 Plant Diversity: An evolutionary approach to the study of major plant groups--algae to flowering plants. Emphasis will be placed on cytology, anatomy, and development. Economic and ecological aspects of various groups as they relate to humans will also be considered. Laboratory will stress principles via hands-on study of selected representatives. Three lectures and one 2-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite: 200 or consent of instructor.

304-4 Elements of Plant Systematics: The principles of plant classification including history, nomenclature, specimen collection and preservation, current systematic methodologies, and a survey of the pteridophytes, lycophytes, gymnosperms and 50 angiosperm families. Two lectures and four laboratory hours per week. Prerequisite: 200 or equivalent.
410-3 Ecology of Bryophytes: A field-based focus on learning identification of the local flora. Interactions of bryophytes to their environment are examined through lectures, laboratories, and field study. Importance of mosses and liverworts to ecosystems, community analysis, and population interactions are emphasized. Two lecture/laboratory/field trips per week. Lab fee: $15. Prerequisite: a 300 level course in plant biology or permission of the instructor.
415-5 Morphology of Vascular Plants: The study of external form, internal structure, and relationships
of vascular plants. Three lectures and two labs per week. Prerequisite: Plant Biology 300; 400 recommended.
416-3 Limnology (= Zoology 415): Lakes and inland waters; the organisms living in them, and the factors affecting these organisms. Two lectures per week and one 4-hour laboratory alternate weeks. Offered fall term. Prerequisite: Zoology 220a.

420-3 Techniques in Plant Molecular Biology: Students will gain hands-on experience with current molecular techniques being applied to questions in the plant sciences. These include isozyme electrophoresis, DNA and RNA extraction, restriction endonuclease digestions, Northern blotting, Southern blotting, PCR (polymerase chain reaction), gene cloning, and DNA sequencing. Students will also gain some exposure to the use of computers in manipulating and analyzing molecular data. Prerequisites: Biology 200 (or equivalent) and Junior standing, or consent of instructor.

449-4 Plant Systematics and Evolution

The principles of modern plant systematics including classification methods, phenetics, cladistics, speciation and isolating mechanisms, plant breeding systems, basic population genetics, hybridization, polyploidy, and flowering plant phylogenetic relationships using traditional and molecular markers. Prerequisite: Plant Biology 304 (or equivalent) or consent of instructor.

450-2 Plant Geography

Plant distributions are examined from both ecological and historical perspectives. Ecological topics include analysis of limiting factors, occurrence of present biomes, and examination of climate/plant interactions. Historical topics include phylogenetic analysis, evolutionary biogeography, and paleo-floras. Two lectures per weekly.

451-4 Flora of Southern Illinois: Exposure to the major upland and lowland communities of southern Illinois with an emphasis on the identification, distribution and ecology of the natural and introduced floristic components. Prerequisite: 304 or consent of instructor.

479-3 Plant Variation: Classical and modern plant biosystematics focused at and below the species level. Chromosomal and molecular bases for genetic and phenotypic variation in plants, isolating mechanisms, speciation, hybridization, polyploidy, phylogeography, and conservation genetics will be discussed. Prerequisite: Plant Biology 304 (or equivalent) or consent of instructor.

504-3 Molecular Evolution and Systematics (= Zoology 500): Survey of the theory and processes of organic evolution at the level of protein and DNA in animals. Quantitative analysis of genetic data; methods of phylogenetic in-ference from molecular data. Three lectures per week. Prerequisite: 304 or equivalent and Biology 305 or equivalent.

547-3 to 8 Tropical Studies in Costa Rica

Credit for field courses taken under the jurisdiction of the Organization for Tropical Studies in Costa Rica. Courses and credits will vary. Prerequisite: approval of OTS Advisory Committee at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

554-1 to 4 Systematic Biology Seminar (= Anthropology 554, MBMB 554, Zoology 554)

Interdisciplinary research topics in systematic biology. Seminar consists of biweekly presentations by visiting or resident researchers, followed by roundtable discussions with seminar participants. Students also participate in a day-long symposium at which they contribute an oral or poster presentation. Graded S/U. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

556-3 Phylogenetics (= Zoology 556): A survey of computational problems and solutions in modern systematic biology. Topics include platform options and limitations, numerical analyses, database management, information dissemination and retrieval, and computer taxonomy. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

578-3 Population Genetics (= Zoology 578)

Genetic structure of populations, factors causing changes and principles governing rate and direction of change. Three lectures per week. Prerequisite: Zoology 304 or equivalent, and Biology 305 or equivalent.

Molecular and Biochemical Physiology Node Courses


306-3 Cell Biology: The functions of the cell are considered. The biochemical basis and mechanisms of the cellular processes, the functions of the subcellular structures, and their ramifications will be explored in the context of plant and animal cells. Prerequisites: BIOL 200a,b and Chemistry 140a or 200 and 201.
317-3 Introduction to Medical Botany: A survey of plants affecting human health and how they are used historically and in modern times, with emphasis on the biologically active constituents. Laboratory experiments will introduce students to techniques in production, isolation, chemical analysis and biological testing of medicinal compounds from plants. Prerequisites: BIOL 200a and 200b, CHEM 140a or CHEM 200 and 201.
320-4 Elements of Plant Physiology: The functions of plants and their relation to the various organs. Two lectures and four laboratory hours per week. Every semester. Prerequisite: 200; organic chemistry or a minor in chemistry.
400-4 Plant Anatomy: An introduction to cell division, development, and maturation of the structures of the vascular plants. Laboratory. Prerequisite: 200 or consent of instructor.

419-3 Plant Molecular Biology: A survey of molecular phenomena unique to plant systems. Topics will include: genome organization and synteny between plant genomes, transcriptional and post-transcriptional control of gene expression, signal transduction, epigenetics, plant-pathogen interactions and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses.

420-3 Techniques in Plant Molecular Biology: Students will gain hands-on experience with current molecular techniques being applied to questions in the plant sciences. These include isozyme electrophoresis, DNA and RNA extraction, restriction endonuclease digestions, Northern blotting, Southern blotting, PCR (polymerase chain reaction), gene cloning, and DNA sequencing. Students will also gain some exposure to the use of computers in manipulating and analyzing molecular data. Prerequisites: Biology 200 (or equivalent) and Junior standing, or consent of instructor.
425-5 Plant Mineral Nutrition

This course will explore the mechanistic and energetic basis of water relations and membrane transport in plants as well as historical and modern perspectives on plant mineral nutrition. Laboratory exercises will emphasize contemporary methods in these areas, including measurement of plant water status, enzyme and transport kinetics, diagnosis and alleviation of plant mineral deficiencies, and the use of stable and radioisotopes. This course is offered in the Spring of even-numbered years.

426-4 Genomics and Bioinformatics (= PSAS 426)

The course is designed to introduce students from a variety of backgrounds and departments to the scope and methodology of genomic and bioinformatic sciences. Real problems and solutions from genome data analysis are studied in this course to see how high throughput genomics is driving bioinformatics, and changing the biological sciences in revolutionary ways. Prerequisite: One course in the principles of genetics and consent of instructor.
427-5 Plant Biochemistry: Primary and intermediary metabolism. Exploration of fundamental biochemical pathways in plants with an emphasis upon carbon and nitrogen metabolism. Prerequisite: PLB320 or consent of instructor.
430-5 Medicinal Plants: Description
433-4 Introduction to Agricultural Biotechnology (= PSAS 433): This course will cover the basic principles of plant and animal biotechnology using current examples; gene mapping in breeding, transgenic approaches to improve crop plants and transgenic approaches to improve animals will be considered. Technology transfer from laboratory to marketplace will be considered. An understanding of gene mapping, cloning, transfer and expression will be derived. Prerequisite: Senior standing or consent of instructor.
471-3 Introduction to Systems Biology: Systems biology is the emerging science of analyzing large datasets produced by high-throughput molecular biology and biochemistry (i.e. the proteome, interactome, transcriptome, and metabolome).
501A, B-4 (2,2) Research Transmission Electron Microscopy: (a) Theory of design of electron microscope, lenses, vacuum systems, alignment, speciman preparation and darkroom. (b) Practical experience in use of transmission electron miscroscope and specimen preparation.

502A, B-4 (2,2) Research Scanning Electron Microscopy: (a) Theory of design for scanning electron miscroscope, lenses, vacuum systems, alignment, specimen preparation for biologists and materials scientists, darkroom. (b) Laboratory practical experience in use of scanning electron miscroscope and specimen preparation. Laboratory fee $100.

517-3 Medical Botany: Study of poisonous, medicinal and therapeutic plants, with emphasis on biologically active constituents. The biochemical basis for the pharmacological effects of these plants will also be covered, along with recent advances in medicinal plant research. are used historically and in modern times, with emphasis on the biologically active constituents. Laboratory experiments will introduce students to techniques in production, isolation, chemical analysis and biological testing of medicinal compounds from plants. Prerequisites: BIOL 200a and 200b, CHEM 140a or CHEM 200 and 201.

525D-2 to 4 Cell Fractionation and Biochemistry: A special techniques course designed for graduate students specializing in cell studies. Provides instrumentation training, with emphasis on application of the method to a research project on cell fractionation and biochemical techniques.

525D-2 to 4 Cell Fractionation and Biochemistry: A special techniques course designed for graduate students specializing in cell studies. Provides instrumentation training, with emphasis on application of the method to a research project on cell fractionation and biochemical techniques.

530-3 Plant Ecophysiology: A study of the physiological processes that influence the growth, reproduction, adaptation, and geographic distribution of plants. The ecophysiology of plant stress and plant interactions. Prerequisite: PLB 320 or equivalent and BIOL 307 or equivalent.

533-3 Plant Growth and Morphogensis (= PSAS 520): A study of the role of the environmental variables (light, temperature, etc.) and phytohormones in the growth and morphogensis of intact plants and tissue cultures. The theories of plant organogensis and the synthesis, translocation, regulation and mode of action of the major classes of phytohormones will be treated in light of the most recent literature. Three lectures per week. Prerequisite: 320 or consent of instructor.

390-1 to 3 Readings in Plant Biology: Individually assigned readings in botanical literature. Every semester. Prerequisite: consent of departmental chairperson.
480-1 Senior Seminar: Reading, writings, discussions and presentations of current research topics in Plant Biology. Not for graduate credit. Prerequisite: senior standing or consent of instructor.
492-2 to 6 Honors in Plant Biology: Individual research problems available to qualified juniors and seniors. Prerequisite: consent of department chairperson.
493-1 to 4 Research topics in Plant Biology.
Individual laboratory or field work under supervised direction: (a) Ecology, (b) Systematics, (c) Physiology/Molecular Biology.
525D-2 to 4 Cell Biology Research Techniques: Part D: Cell Fractionation and Biochemical Techniques: A special techniques course designed for graduate students specializing in cell studies. Provides instrumentation training, with emphasis on application of the method to a research project.
570-2 to 3 Graduate Readings in Plant Biology: A course of individually assigned readings in botanical literature. Every semester. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Graded S / U only.
580-1 to 6 (1 per semester) Departmental Seminar: Student presentations and critiques of original research, including presentations by occasional invited speakers. Graded S / U only. Required of all graduate students in residence, when offered.

589-1 to 12 (1 per topic per semester) Seminars in Plant Biology: Studies of current and historical research and literature in various topic areas of plant biology: (a) ecology, (b) molecular biochemical physiology, (c) systematics and biodiversity. Graded S / U only.

590-1 to 3 Introduction to Research: General introduction to research techniques. Techniques to be determined by instructor and students. Every semester. Graded S / U only. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

591-2 to 9 Research: Assignments involving research and individual problems. (a) Ecology, (b) Molecular Biochemical Physiology, (c) Systematics and Biodiversity. Master's students may use this for their research for their thesis. Every semester. Graded S/U only. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

599-2 to 9 Thesis: Course to be taken in the preparation of the Master's thesis. Every semester. Graded S / U only. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

600-1 to 36 (1 to 12 per semester) Dissertation: Course to be taken in the research for and in writing of the doctoral dissertation. Every semester. Graded S / U only. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

601-1 per Semester Continuing Enrollment: For those graduate students who have not finished their degree programs and who are in the process of working on their dissertation, thesis, or research paper. The student must have completed a minimum of 24 hours of dissertation research. or the minimum thesis, or research hours before being eligible to register for this course. Concurrent enrollment in any other course is not permitted. Graded S / U or DEF only.