The key cellular processes that facilitate plant growth and development; how these processes are regulated by the environment; how plants respond to stressful conditions; applications in conventional plant breeding, biotechnology and food production.
In this paper we investigate, using a combination of laboratories, project based research, lectures and tutorials, the processes and factors that control plant growth and development, and how plants can be manipulated to sustainably satisfy the increasing global demand for crops, food and fuels.
You will learn the mechanisms that plants use to control their growth and development, and how an understanding of these mechanisms enables more efficient production of crop plants that produce greater yields with fewer resources and a reduced environmental impact.
You will learn how to culture plant cells and produce artificial seeds, how to extend the postharvest lives of fruit, vegetables and cut flowers, how plant cells can be used as green chemical factories and how to produce super-plants that can cope with the stresses associated with climate change.
| Paper title | Plant Functional Biology and Biotechnology |
|---|---|
| Paper code | BTNY201 |
| Subject | Botany |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Semester 1 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees (NZD) | $1,141.35 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- One of BIOL 112, BIOL 113, BIOL 123, BTNY 111, CELS 191, ECOL 111, HUBS 191, HUBS 192 and 18 further points from Science Schedule C
- Restriction
- BTNY 221
- Schedule C
- Science
- Eligibility
- Suitable for undergraduates, graduates and professionals of all disciplines interested in or working with plants or plants-based products.
- Contact
- botany@otago.ac.nz
- More information link
View more information about BTNY201 on the Department of Botany's website
- Teaching staff
Convenor: Associate Professor David Burritt
Lecturer: Associate Professor Paul Guy
- Paper Structure
- Section I: The Development of Higher Plants: theory and biotechnological applications.
- Section II: Plant Metabolism: designing better plants.
- Section III: Plant Responses to Stress: coping with climate change.
- Teaching Arrangements
- 24 lectures
- 2 laboratory experiments (run over 4 weeks)
- 2 tutorials (run in laboratory times)
- A mini-project (run over 8 weeks)
- Textbooks
- Taiz, L. & Ziegler, E. (2015) Plant Physiology and Development. Sinauer Associates Inc., 6th edition.
- Course outline
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Lifelong learning, Critical thinking.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this paper will demonstrate in-depth understanding of the central concepts, theories, and current areas of debate.
