Plant cell and molecular biology

The course serves as an introduction to the Plant orientation in Civil Engineering Program in Biotechnology and Genomics as well as to the Master's Programme in Plant and Forest Biotechnology. After a brief overview illustrating different aspects of plant and forest biotechnology, an introduction is given to the plant cell and its unique characteristics. The course further aims to provide knowledge of how the various organelles and processes are regulated at the cellular and molecular level such to enable the plant cell and the plant to grow and adapt to their environment. Areas which are then particularly addressed are: photosynthesis, respiration, carbohydrate and nitrogen metabolism, plant organelles and the cytoskeleton, intracellular signaling, and the biosynthesis and turnover of proteins. The course is divided into three modules: theory (10.5 credits), literature studies and written assay (3 credits), laboratory exercises (1.5 credits).