10/28/2024 1:48:33 AM	BTNY 10 Course Outline as of Fall 2025	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  BTNY 10	Title:  PLANT BIOLOGY
Full Title:  Plant Biology
Last Reviewed:9/23/2024

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	4.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	52.50
Minimum	4.00	Lab Scheduled	3.00		8 min.	Lab Scheduled	52.50
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	6.00			Contact Total	105.00
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 210.00

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  BOTANY 10

Catalog Description:

This is a general education course in plant biology in which students will study the structure and function of plants, including the genetics, ecology, evolution, reproduction, and diversity of plant life forms.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

This is a general education course in plant biology in which students will study the structure and function of plants, including the genetics, ecology, evolution, reproduction, and diversity of plant life forms.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
Area:	C	Natural Sciences
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	B2	Life Science		Fall 1981
	B3	Laboratory Activity
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	5B	Biological Sciences		Fall 1981
	5C	Fulfills Lab Requirement
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
UC Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Apply the scientific method and lab skills to the investigation and evaluation of biological phenomena.

2. Synthesize knowledge of evolutionary mechanisms, trends, and history with patterns of biodiversity.

3. Integrate basic principles of cellular processes, anatomy, physiology, genetics, ecology, and evolution as applied to plant systems.

4. Explain connections between humans, and plants to local and global environmental issues.

 

Objectives:

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Outline the history of plant science.

2. Explain the methods of scientific investigation.

3. Categorize and explain the multiple factors associated with plant ecology, especially human impact on natural landscapes.

4. Examine plant morphology and anatomy, including cell structure and function, vegetative and reproductive morphology, and major tissue systems and anatomy of roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds.

5. Describe plant physiological mechanisms, including cellular respiration, water relations, transport, nutrition, photosynthesis, and growth and development.

6. Explain the basis of plant inheritance, including Mendelian, chromosomal, and molecular genetics.

7. Describe processes of microevolution and macroevolution, including speciation and major trends in plant evolution.

8. Compare and contrast the morphology and phylogenetic relationships of algae, bryophytes, seedless vascular plants, and seed plants.

9. Evaluate the relevance and importance of plants to human cultures.

10. Evaluate the importance of biodiversity and conservation efforts.

Topics and Scope

I. Botany as Science

    A. Course introduction

    B. The methods of natural science

    C. Brief history of plant sciences

    D. The importance of studying botany

II. Plant Ecology

    A. Environmental constraints to plant distribution

    B. Plant adaptation and evolutionary history

    C. Vegetation types and communities

    D. Ecosystem structure and function

    E. Ecological succession

    F. Ecosystem management

III. Plant Structure

    A. Cell structure and cell division

    B. Major cell and tissue types

    C. Morphology and anatomy of roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds

    D. Functional morphology and adaptation

IV. Plant Physiology

    A. Diffusion, osmosis, and passive transport

    B. Plant water relations and xeric adaptations

    C. Soil mineral nutrition

    D. Plant metabolism and energetics

    E. Photosynthesis

    F. Cellular respiration

    G. Internal and external regulation of growth and development.

V.  Plant Inheritance and Evolution

    A. Mendelian patterns of inheritance

    B. Chromosomal genetics

    C. Polyploidy in plants

    D. Mechanisms of microevolution and macroevolution

    E. Major phylogenetic patterns

VI. Plant Diversity

    A. Algae

    B. Bryophytes

    C. Seedless vascular plants

    D. Seed plants

VII. Plant Ecology

    A. Economic and ecological relevance of plants to humans

    B. Plant biodiversity and conservation

 

All topics above will be covered in both lecture and lab.

Assignments:

Lecture-Related Assignments:

1. Assigned readings (approximately 20-40 pages weekly)

2. Additional assignment as determined by instructor may include: Three to six-page research paper (0-1)

3. Quizzes (2-10)

4. Exams (2-4)

 

Lab-Related Assignments:

1. Lab report(s) (1-8)

2. Lab practical exam(s) (1-3)

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 0 - 20%
Research paper (if assigned)
This is a degree applicable course but assessment tools based on writing are not included because this course includes essay exams that fulfil the writing component of the course.
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 10 - 40%
Lab report(s) and lab practical(s)
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 50 - 70%
Quizzes and exams
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 0%
None

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Stern's Introductory Plant Biology. 15th ed. Bidlack, James, Jansky, Shelley and Stern, Kingsley. McGraw-Hill Education. 2020. (classic).

Botany: An Introduction to Plant Biology. 7th ed. Mauseth, James. Jones & Bartlett Publishers. 2021.

Instructor prepared lab manual

Instructor prepared materials

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