Uppsala university
Biology Education Centre
Plant Structure and Function 2013
Plant Structure and Function, 15 hp, 1BG206 Learning outcomes
After the course, the student should be able to:
• Give examples of several evolutionary innovations essential for the terrestrial plants
possibilities to establish and diversify in different environments
• Account for fundamental physiological/functional, genetic/developmental and
phylogenetic/biodiversity aspects of these innovations
• Describe how we, from different perspectives, can illustrate and contribute to a more
general understanding of the origin of evolutionary innovations and their underlying
genotypic and phenotypic mechanisms
• Describe
o fundamental aspects regarding phylogenetic relationships, morphology, anatomy and
physiology of plants
o the principles behind historical analysis of relationships and character evolution
o molecular mechanisms behind important morphological and physiological
innovations
o the principles of inference for evolutionary mechanisms based on genomic variation
o the principles for analysis of DNA sequences and gene expression
• independently make use of phylogenetic trees to describe evolutionary patterns and
analyse evolutionary causalities
• Perform and show practical skills in microscopy and genetic analysis
• Discuss and communicate principles, problems and research results for questions within
the framework of the contents of the course
Assessment
Parts of the course: Theory 8 hp, projects 3hp, laboratory sessions 4 hp.
1) The theory part is examined by
a) A "practical" exam on anatomy. Pass limit is 70%.
b) A theoretical exam (including all parts of the course). Pass limit is 50%.
c) The anatomy project will be disseminated by a scientific report (which will be graded
G, G+, or G++, grading criteria found below) and it will also be disseminated as a
poster with an oral presentation including peer-review (pass or fail only).
2) Internship (“praktik”) is examined through a written and an oral presentation and is
graded by pass or fail only.
3) Laboratory sessions and seminars require active participation (pass or fail only).
To pass the course
You must have done all assignments, passed all deliverables, and have actively participated in
the labs and seminars to pass the course.
Grades
For the entire course (and thus the only grade visible in the documentation), grades 3, 4, or 5
are assigned based on the result of the exams, and the scientific report of the anatomy project.
How does the grading work? OR The noble art of calculating the grade…
Theoretical exam (T) make up ½ of the final grade, the practical exam (P) ¼ and the anatomy
project report (R) of ¼.
The grade is calculated by the very simple and easily understood formula:
((T-50) x 3 + (P-70) x 5/2 + R x ¾) / 6 + 50
Uppsala university
Biology Education Centre
Plant Structure and Function 2013
where the anatomy project report grades G, G+, and G++ are translated to 0, 30 or 60,
respectively.
The result will then be compared with the usual limits for the grades
Grade 3: ≥50%, <65%
Grade 4: ≥65%, <80%
Grade 5: ≥80%
Example. You get 80% on the theoretical exam, 85% on the practical exam and G on the
anatomy report. The result is then ((80-50) x 3 + (85-70) x 5/2 + 0 x ¾) / 6 + 50 =
(90+37.5+0)/6 + 50 = 71,25 and you get the grade 4.
Grading criteria for the anatomy project
Criteria for G
In the anatomy project report you shall
• Participate actively in the planning, collecting of data, analyses, and report writing.
• Individually write the report in a scientific way (see handouts for guidelines). It should be
clear and easy to follow. In the report you shall also
o define your task.
o describe how the project was designed and why the project was designed in that way.
o describe how you carried out the project.
o interpret the results and draw conclusions based on them.
o put your result in a larger framework by referring to other scientific studies.
• Present your project orally. In the presentation you shall
o Describe how the project was designed and why.
o Describe your results and (explain your) conclusions.
• Be “opponent” on another project, and give feedback in a constructive and relevant way.
In your peer-review you shall show that you understand the aim of their project, the
results, and the most important conclusion(s).
Criteria for G+
In addition to the criteria listed for grade 3, you shall in the anatomy project report
• discuss your work in relation to scientific studies.
• suggest how you may continue to further address your theory/hypothesis.
Criteria for G++
In addition to the criteria listed for grade 4, you shall in the anatomy project report
• evaluate data and clearly justify your arguments.
• discuss how your study was affected by your choice of method/design and its
possibilities and limitations.