Advances in Molecular Plant Science

The integration of molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, next-generation sequencing, genome editing and cell biology has had an enormous impact on plant science in recent years. This course will present current understanding in several key areas and demonstrate how conceptual and technical advances provide new insights in plant biology and new approaches for crop improvement and agriculture. Two introductory lectures will be given on plant structure and function prior to the major topics, which will include plant development, nitrogen fixation, epigenetics and regulation of gene expression, next-generation tools for crop improvement, photosynthesis, structural biology in plants, plant immunity, and redox regulation and signalling. Each topic will be presented by a researcher from the Research School of Biology or CSIRO Agriculture and Food. BIOL6177 is an advanced course that requires a basic understanding in one, or preferably more, of the areas of molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, cell biology or plant structure and function. Note: Graduate students attend joint classes with undergraduates but are assessed separately.