PLSCI 6841

Plant Form and Function: Anatomy, Cell Biology, and Development

Course Description

Course information provided by the 2026-2027 Catalog.

This course is broken into three sections focusing on plant anatomy, cell biology, and development. In each section, we will discuss our current understanding of the key concepts, talk about some of the remaining open questions, and describe the techniques used in research to address these questions. Topics covered will include: cell versus organismic theory, meristems, organs, anatomical evolution, the cytoskeleton, cell wall, cell growth, cell division, advanced microscopy, subcellular trafficking, cell differentiation, pattern formation, intercellular signaling, and plant hormones.

Prerequisites BIOMG 2800 or PLSCI 2250 or PLSCI 6831.

Last 4 Terms Offered 2026SP, 2025SP, 2024SP, 2023SP

Learning Outcomes

• Explain the fundamental concepts in plant anatomy, plant cell biology, and plant development, and recognize how these principles underlie and impact research in other areas of plant biology.
• Evaluate experiments and the conclusions drawn from them in the scientific literature on plant anatomy, cell biology, and development.
• Design experiments using the techniques presented in the course and describe their advantages as well as limitations.

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