Introduction to Plant Development and Signal Transduction

Goals:
· Searching, in a set of primary articles, for key/pertinent elements that inform on advances in a precise scientific field
· Working autonomously and in collaborative groups and networks
· Evaluating peers on an oral presentation
· Skills to be developed both in oral and written exercises:
o Putting a scientific question in the context of the state-of-the-art
o Analysing and presenting a scientific dataset made of experimental results
o Understanding the experimental protocol behind a result, a methodology
o Proposing an approach and methodologies to answer to a scientific question


Teacher: Christel Carles ([email protected]), Gabrielle Tichtinsky [email protected])

Program:
· Approaches and tools to study plant development and signaling
· Gametogenesis and Fertilization
· Self-Incompatibility
· Early embryogenesis: establishment of the apico-basal axis
· Late embryogenesis: ABA, desiccation tolerance and dormancy
· Function of the Meristems
o Root Apical Meristem
o Shoot Apical Meristem and Cambium
o Floral Meristem
· Flower morphogenesis and diversification
· Phyllotaxis and organ growth (auxins, CKs, GAs, Ethylene )
· Flowering transition (vernalisation, photoperiod, autonomous pathway)
· Photo/Skotosignaling and morphogenesis
· Retrograde signaling and plant development
· Photo perception and photosynthesis (Phototropins)
· Plant polysaccharides and signaling
· Abiotic stress responses (nutrients, genotoxic agents, phytoremediation)

Tutorials
Individual students present a subject based on the study of article(s), on one of the topics developed in the lectures. Ahead of the presentation, a tutorial slot of 20min will be dedicated for consultation between each presenting student and his/her professor. A group of 2-3 students will also work together on the article(s) in order to prepare questions for the presenting student, and will give feedback on the answers. There will be 2 presentations by discussion session of 1h30.


Prerequisites and examination procedures:
Prerequisites
· Knowing the bases of cell biology, gene regulation, and plant physiology.
· Knowing how to grasp a scientific question; to present research results in light of announced objectives; to bring a critical view on experimental results and to propose further experiments.
Examination procedures
· Mid-term exam: dataset analysis (1:30 25%) + Individual presentation and questions (0:30-40h 25%)
· Final exam: Synthesis and data analysis (2:00h, 50%)


Teaching Methods:
Tradition lectures (25.5 Hours) Tutorials and discussions (22 hours)

Language of instruction:
English

WEB pages:
https://master-biologie.univ-grenoble-alpes.fr/majors/planta-international-plant-int-/