In this block course, students actively participate in ongoing research projects on plant metabolism and are tutored by doctoral students and postdocs. The theoretical background of the projects is provided in a lecture series. Finally, students discuss their projects and results during an interactive poster session.
Learning objective
Through supervision in small groups (either individually or in groups of two) students learn to conduct experiments in molecular plant biology, interpret the results, record them and communicate them to peers. Students also gain an insight into the larger context of their projects and how they are planned in the longer term.
Content
Participation in a project from the following list is possible: 1) Photosynthesis: How is photosynthesis regulated and how is photoassimilated carbon distributed in plants? 2) Biology of chloroplasts: How do chloroplasts develop and how is their function coordinated with that of the whole cell? 3) Starch biosynthesis and degradation: How are complex, semi-crystalline starch granules produced from monosaccharides and how are they broken down again to release energy?
Lecture notes
No script
Literature
Descriptions of the possible projects including individual reading suggestions will be handed out beforehand.
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 the lab-book 2) a journal club presentation 3) a presentation or poster describing your project, and 4) a brief oral exam based on the lectures accompanying the practical work.
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".
Performance assessment as a semester course