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551-0359-00L 6 Credits BSC D-BIOL , D-CHAB

Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology of Plants

Lecturers & Examiners: Prof. Dr. Samuel C. Zeeman, Dr. Barbara Pfister
Number of participants limited to 6. The enrolment is done by the D-BIOL study administration.
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-06-03 00:07:29

Abstract

In this block course, students actively participate in ongoing research projects in plant biochemistry, genetics and cell biology, supervised by PhD students and postdoctoral fellows in groups of 2-3 students ,The research background is discussed in Journal Clubs.At the end of the course, students present their projects and results in an interactive poster session with the Plant Biochemistry group

Objective

Students are able to independently apply and record current molecular genetic, biochemical and microscopy methods on plants, critically evaluate and communicate the results, understand the larger context of their research project and develop ideas for further experiments.

Content

Projects are newly designed each year and announced a few days before the course starts. Example projects include the cell biology of starch granule formation, regulation of photosynthetic metabolism, development of the phloem in growing roots, or RNA metabolism in chloroplasts, Methods applied include fluorescence and electron microscopy, molecular cloning, in-vivo protein-protein interaction studies, RNA binding and RNA detection, and bioinformatics.

Resources

Lecture Notes

No script

Literature

Descriptions of the possible projects including individual reading suggestions will be handed out beforehand.

General Information

Language
English
Levels
BSC
Frequency
Yearly recurring

Examination

Type
graded semester performance
Assessments will be based on 1) performance in the lab and the lab-book 2) a journal club presentation 3) a poster presentation of your project.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 [email protected]) so that the enrollment is deleted. Otherwise the course is considered as "failed".

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
practical/laboratory course Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology of Plants
Permission from lecturers required for all students. Block course in the 2nd quarter of the autumn semester
No time listed 100 h semesterly

Offered In