Plant Biology Courses | 2024-2025 Academic Catalog | SIU

(University Core Curriculum) (Same as ZOOL 115) [IAI Course: L1 900L] 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. Lab fee: $15.

Credit Hours: 3

(University Core Curriculum) [IAI Course: L1 901L] A multidisciplinary approach to understanding the relationships between plants and humans: basic botanical principles (cell structure, morphology, anatomy, physiology, genetics, systematics, diversity and ecology); historical and modern uses of plant (fibers, building materials, crops, beverages, medicines), poisonous plants, an Observational and experimental labs reinforce lecture topics. Lab fee: $15.

Credit Hours: 3

(University Core Curriculum course) An introduction to Plant Biology. Emphasis is placed on structure and reproduction, embryo development, and vital developmental processes needed for plant survival, such as photosynthesis, respiration, water transport and nutrient assimilation. Other topics include cell division, basic Mendelian genetics, DNA, RNA, protein synthesis, taxonomy, evolution, ecology, and conservation. The course also includes a brief overview of medicinal plants and their biologically active compounds. Satisfies University Core Curriculum Science Group II requirement in lieu of PLB 115 or ZOOL 115. Lab fee: $15.

Credit Hours: 4

A survey of scientifically, historically, and empirically verifiable information on cannabis, with emphasis on its biological features, chemical constituents, and biochemical effects. Students will learn the different kinds and uses of cannabis, a variety of industrial and medicinal products derived from the plant, the bioactive constituents and their effects of human health. The course will cover cannabis history, foliage and shoot architecture, sex determination, growth and development, ecological interactions, production and processing, endocannabinoids, and sustainability.

Credit Hours: 3

This course surveys the history and diversity of algae, land plants, and fungi-branches of the tree of life that are of immense importance both to the ecosystem and to human interests. Emphasis is on evolution, ecology, symbiotic relationships, life cycles, and adaptive morphology. Three lectures and one 2-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite: either BIOL 213 or PLB 200 with a grade of C or better. Lab fee: $50.

Credit Hours: 4

(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. Lab fee: $15.

Credit Hours: 3

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 medical compounds from plants. Two lectures and 4 hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisites: BIOL 200A and BIOL 200B or BIOL 211, BIOL 212, and BIOL 213, CHEM 140A or CHEM 200 and CHEM 201. Lab fee: $25.

Credit Hours: 4

The processes used by plants to meet their basic needs and to control growth and development. Three lectures and two laboratory hours per week. Prerequisite: BIOL 211 and BIOL 213 or PLB 200; CHEM 200 and CHEM 201 with grades of C or better. Lab fee: $50.

Credit Hours: 4

Exploration of the use of botanical evidence in forensic investigations. Students will learn how botanical evidence is identified, collected, and analyzed in criminal cases. How 'real' are Hollywood forensics cases that use plants? Students will read critique legal case studies and the current scientific literature. There will be a field trip to the State Crime Lab. Prerequisite: At least one of the following life science courses with lab: BIOL 200A, BIOL 200B, BIOL 211, BIOL 212, BIOL 213, PLB 200, PLB 117, PLB 115, or ZOOL 115. Field trip fee: $15.

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as ZOOL 351) Basic ecological field techniques for analysis of community structure and functional relationships. Two 4-hour laboratories per week. Prerequisite: BIOL 307. Laboratory/field trip fee: $25.

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as ZOOL 360) 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 and correlation. Analysis of computer generated output and report writing required. This course does not fulfill the College of Science Biological Sciences requirement. Prerequisite: MATH 108.

Credit Hours: 3

Individually assigned readings in botanical literature. Every semester. Special approval needed from the departmental chair.

Credit Hours: 1-3

This course is an introduction to the differentiation, diversification and structure of plant tissues, organs and external forms, with emphasis on seed plants. Laboratory will include instruction in basic techniques of microscopy used in the study of plant structure. Two lectures and two laboratories per week. Prerequisite: BIOL 213 or PLB 200 with grades of C or better. Lab fee: $50.

Credit Hours: 4

This course will be an introduction to the curation of biological collections and strongly involve experiential learning through participatory activities with collections. This will involve an overview of museums, collection procedures, and the long-term features of high quality curation of specimens and will examine how a broad range of organisms is curated. Lab/Field trip fee: $50.

Credit Hours: 2

This course covers the principles of plant classification including history, nomenclature, specimen collection and preservation, current systematic methodologies, and a survey of major plant families. Two lectures and four hours of lab per week. Prerequisites: BIOL 213 or PLB 200 with grades of C or better. Lab fee: $50.

Credit Hours: 4

(Same as ZOOL 415) Lakes and inland waters; the organisms living in them, and the factors affecting these organisms. Two lectures and one 4-hour laboratory alternate weeks. Prerequisite: BIOL 307 with a grade of C or better. Laboratory/Field Trip fee: $15.

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as PSAS 419, CSEM 419) 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. Prerequisite: BIOL 305 or CSEM 305. Restricted to junior standing.

Credit Hours: 3

Advanced topics in plant physiology. Abiotic factors such as light, water, temperature, and nutrients, as well as emerging man-made pollutants such as nanoparticle contamination. Biotic factors such as plant-microbe signaling and the rhizosphere microbiome, plant-plant signaling, and competition for resources. These topics are covered at molecular and organismal levels, as well as the physiological ecology of these processes on a larger scale. This course offers a perspective of how these processes work in nature, as well as how they are or might be manipulated for crop or agriculture practice improvement. Undergraduate Prerequisite: PLB 320 or PSAS 409. Lab fee: $35.

Credit Hours: 5

(Same as CSEM 427 and PSAS 427) Exploration of fundamental biochemical pathways in plants with an emphasis upon carbon and nitrogen metabolism. Prerequisite: PLB 320 or consent of instructor. Lab fee: $35.

Credit Hours: 5

(Same as AGSE 433, ANS 433, CSEM 433, HORT 433, 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.

Credit Hours: 3-7

(Same as ZOOL 435) This course will be an evolutionary and ecological examination of the interactions between plants and pollinators. Topics include pollination syndromes, plant breeding systems, pollinator foraging, learning, and behavior, specialized vs. generalized relationships, coevolution/cospeciation, chemical ecology, honey beekeeping & agricultural pollination, and conservation implications of pollinator relationships. Labs will provide hands-on experience in methods of investigating plant breeding systems, plant reproductive ecology, pollinator behavior and efficacy, pollen analysis, floral scent chemistry, and floral phenology. Prerequisite: BIOL 307 (General Ecology) with a grade of C or better or equivalent. For graduate students and senior undergraduates. Lab fee: $75.

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as AGSE 438, CSEM 438, PSAS 438, ZOOL 438) Arabidopsis and Drosophila model organisms, lab-based training in laboratory safety, reagent preparation, phenotype analysis, genetics, DNA and RNA analysis, PCR, cDNA construction, cloning and sequencing of genes. Includes plant and bacterial transformation, and a population level analysis of genetic variation using RAPD markers in grasses and Alu insertion in humans. Two 2-hr labs and one 1-hr lecture per week. Prerequisite: BIOL 305 or equivalent or consent of instructor. Lab fee: $30.

Credit Hours: 3

This course examines grassland structure and function in relation to various biotic and abiotic factors. Field trips will visit local grasslands. Two lectures and one 4-hour lab per week. Prerequisite: BIOL 307 or consent of instructor. Lab fee: $50.

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as ZOOL 444) Includes concepts and methods pertaining to the analysis of ecological data. Approaches will include a variety of methods for analyzing multivariate ecology, diversity, pattern, and spatial data. Laboratory will include the computer application of these concepts and methods to field situations. Two lectures and one 4 hour lab per week. Prerequisite: PLB/ZOOL 360, BIOL 307. Lab fee: $15.

Credit Hours: 4

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. This is a field-based course wherein the students travel to local areas for plant identification. Each week, 4-8 hours per weekly session is spent in field work and travel to specific field sites is required via a university vehicle. Prerequisite: PLB 408 with a grade of C or better or consent of instructor. Field Trip fee not to exceed $160.

Credit Hours: 3

This course covers principles and research techniques of plant population ecology including the spatial, age, size and genetic structures of plant populations. The origin of these different aspects of population structure, their influences upon each other and their temporal dynamics are also examined. Two lectures and one 4-hour lab per week. Prerequisite: BIOL 307 or consent of instructor. Lab fee: $35.

Credit Hours: 4

(Same as ZOOL 472) The bioinformatic analysis of large genomic and post-genomic data sets. Integration of gene regulation, protein interaction, metabolite and hormonal signaling provides an understanding of basic cellular circuitry networks. Examine redundancy, robustness and decision making in biological systems. Lab includes databases, tools, and manipulation of large data sets. Prerequisite: BIOL 305 or CS 330. Lab fee: $15.

Credit Hours: 3

Cell structure at molecular and cytological levels. Includes discussions of research methods, plasma membrane, cell exterior and recognition, the endomembrane system and related organelles, self-replicating organelles, the cytoskeleton, nuclear structure and function in cell replication, cell differentiation and response, and eukaryotic cell evolution. Prerequisite: BIOL 306 or equivalent.

Credit Hours: 3

Laboratory course to accompany Plant Biology 475. Light and electron microscopy, cell culturing, biochemical methods, and experimental protocols are used to study the structure of cell membranes, intracellular organelles, including the Golgi apparatus, ER, mitochondria, plastids, lysosomes, the cytoskeleton, and nucleus. Prerequisite: PLB 475 or concurrent enrollment.

Credit Hours: 2

Reading, writings, discussions and presentations of current research topics in plant biology. Not for graduate credit. Restricted to senior standing or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 1

(Same as ZOOL 490) This course places conservation of particular species into the context of community and ecosystem management. Approaches to quantifying energy needs of individual species will be extended to models of trophic networks among multiple species. Food web structure and function, species interactions, and resilience to species loss species invasions, and environmental changes will be examined in light of landscape processes. Prerequisite: BIOL 307 or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

Individual research problems available to qualified juniors and seniors. Special approval needed from the department chair.

Credit Hours: 2-6

Individual laboratory or field research under supervised direction. Does not count for thesis (PLB 599) or dissertation (PLB 600) credit. Special approval needed from the departmental chair.

Credit Hours: 1-4

Individual laboratory or field research under supervised direction. Does not count for thesis (PLB 599) or dissertation (PLB 600) credit. Special approval needed from the departmental chair.

Credit Hours: 1-4

Individual laboratory or field research under supervised direction. Does not count for thesis (PLB 599) or dissertation (PLB 600) credit. Special approval needed from the departmental chair.

Credit Hours: 1-4