The course is a collaboration of the Plant Cell Biology groups of ETHZ and UZH. The students will learn key concepts related with the remarkable ability of plants to adapt to challenges provided by their environment (both biotic, such as pathogens, and abiotic, like nutrient deficiencies). A multidisciplinary approach including molecular genetics, cell biology, biochemistry and bioinformatics tool
Learning objective
In this course, students will get cell biological and molecular genetics insights into the developmental plasticity of plants to adapt to their environmental conditions using the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. With this aim, they will actively participate in ongoing research projects tutored by doctoral students.
Content
Students will be engaged in research projects aimed to understand the specialized mechanisms evolved by the plants to grow under challenging environments. In a lecture series, the theoretical background for the projects and their interrelationship is provided. Students will design and perform experiments, evaluate experimental results, present their projects, and discuss recent publications to understand the relevance of their work in the context of the current state of plant development and stress response.
Lecture notes
No script
Literature
The recommended literature and list of individual reading assignments will be provided during the course
Prerequisites / Notice
All general lectures will be held at ETH Centrum (LFW building). Students will be divided into small groups to carry out experiments at ETH (Central; LFW) and UZH (Botanical Garden)
Performance assessment
Performance assessment information (valid until the course unit is held again)
Repetition only possible after re-enrolling for the course unit.
Additional information on mode of examination
Assessments will be based on 1) performance in the lab and documentation of your project , 2) a journal club presentation, 3) a presentation describing your project followed by a brief discussion.
Students are obliged to be present throughout the block course. Cancellation: If you have to deregister from a course that has been assigned to you (just emergency reasons), please notify in written the course coordinator at least four weeks before the course starts, for courses in the 1st quarter, a cancellation period of one week applies. The study secretariat D-BIOL must also be informed (email CC to studies@biol.ethz.ch) so that the enrollment is deleted. Otherwise the course is considered as "failed".
Learning materials
No public learning materials available.
Only public learning materials are listed.
Groups
No information on groups available.
Restrictions
General
Permission from lecturers required for all students
Performance assessment as a semester course