Biology: Plant Function

In this course, you will acquire a deep knowledge and understanding of how plants function at different levels of organization, from molecular biology to ecophysiological level, including: the structure and properties of cells, the life processes and their regulation, genome structure, function and evolution, light- and hormone signalling, plant development, reproduction systems, biotic interactions and stress response. You will also learn about practical applications of plant biology, e.g. domestication, plant breeding and biotechnology.

After completing the course, the students will have a very thorough knowledge of plant physiology, development and response. The acquired knowledge will give the students a very solid basis for any further studies within plant biology, and also a strong foundation to enter commercial activities for instance in plant biotechnology or breeding companies.

The course is divided into two main components. A theoretical section, where you'll explore key concepts through lectures followed by group discussions to reinforce and deepen your understanding. Then comes the hands-on lab section, where you'll grow and analyze plants both in soil and in vitro, applying what you've learned in a practical, experimental setting. In the laboratory part, you will be given a set of control and mutant plants. During the course, the students will work in teams to grow, maintain, study and characterise the lines in different conditions and using various techniques including in vitro culture and microscopy. When all measurements are done, the student teams will summarise their findings in a written report and present them in an oral presentation to the class.

During the course there is also a study visits to the Botanical Garden of Lund, and to a company involved in plant breeding and biotechnology (such as Lantmännen). At the end of the course, the students will be evaluated in a written exam.

Prerequisites

120 ECTS credits Science studies including courses corresponding to MOBA01 Cell Biology 15 cr, BIOA01 Genetics and Microbiology 15 cr, and either BIOB01 Botany 12 cr and 7.5 Cr. Chemistry, or MOBA03 Molecular Biology 15 cr. English 6/English Course B.

Selection criteria

Seats are allocated according to: ECTS (HPAV): 100 %.

Tuition fees for non-EU/EEA citizens

Citizens of countries outside:

• The European Union (EU)
• The European Economic Area (EEA) and
• Switzerland

are required to pay tuition fees. You pay an instalment of the tuition fee in advance of each
semester.

Tuition fees, payments and exemptions

Full programme/course tuition fee: SEK 46,250
First payment: SEK 46,250

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Note that you may also need to pay an application fee, or provide proof of exemption.

Application fee

No tuition fees for citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland

There are no tuition fees for citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.