Poster: Education & outreach

Abs # 930: A new approach to plant anatomy: PBIO 442/542 Experimental Anatomy of Plant Development

Presenter:	Wyatt, Sarah E., wyatts@ohio.edu
Authors	Wyatt, Sarah E. (A)   Rothwell, Gar W. (A)
Affiliations:	(A): Ohio University

PBIO 442/542, “Experimental Anatomy of Plant Development” integrates the molecular and physiological concepts of plant development with the descriptive assessment of cell, tissue, and organ types that are the mainstay of plant anatomy to provide an exciting opportunity for plant biology students. The course is grounded in experimentation and includes cutting edge methodologies currently available for assessment of gene expression. The lecture and laboratory are highly integrated. Lectures provide a conceptual framework for labs and serve to introduce topics and material needed to successfully complete the lab sessions. In the labs, students combine the descriptive analysis of plant cells, tissues and organs with experiments designed to assess development of those tissues and organs. Students perform all sectioning, staining and microscopy necessary to assess plant materials, including reporter gene fusions, mutants, and GFP enhancer trap lines, and have the opportunity to use state-of-the-art research equipment. As a final assessment, students are asked to integrate the knowledge they have gained to perform an independent research project based on the assessment of reporter gene expression in Arabidopsis. The results will then be shared with the class. Experimental Anatomy of Plant Development provides a unique opportunity in undergraduate and graduate education.