teaching & learning

Description:

This class provides a broad introduction to evolution, diversity of plant species and their populations, with an emphasis on how human global change impacts them. We study building blocks of evolution, genes and DNA, the forces shaping variation in populations, the process of speciation, and how shifts in global regimes act as an evolutionary force. Our goal is to quantitatively understand diversity, climate change, species extinctions, and adaptation. We will inspire lessons learning about the rich California flora, and will study adaptation by directly observing it in the field and conducting experiments simulating different climates.

Lecture learning objectives:

The class aims to provide a broad introduction to plant evolutionary biology and global change biology. Taking a lens of population evolutionary genetics, students will expand their foundation understanding of evolutionary biology and genetics, speciation, biodiversity. In addition, students will get exposed to the latest research and data on global patterns of change. 

Lab and field objectives:

The field trips and lab work connected with lectures will provide a complementary experience-based learning, with the objective to design observations and experiments to test hypotheses in nature. A key field learning objective will be how to measure nature’s change with global change. The course in addition is technology-focused, aiming to provide useful skills for modern research in plant evolution and biodiversity, including bioinformatic programming, understanding DNA data, big biodiversity databases, plant experiments in nature, etc.  To achieve this, the class has two weekend trips to UC Natural Reserve stations in Northern California, to learn about native flora and ecosystems, and several visits to experimental field stations of UC Berkeley using model systems to test ecological and evolutionary hypotheses.

Description and learning outcomes: This course will serve as a primer for all levels of graduate, co-term, and upper-level undergraduates interested in learning about the fundamental aspects of plant biology as well as the latest advances in tools, techniques, and theories that link basic science with translational science and applications for solving major societal challenges of today and tomorrow. Topics include plant evolution, genomics, genetics, biotic and abiotic interactions, cell and development, and systems and synthetic biology. 

Overall learning goals: Students will learn major concepts and methods in plant biology and gain the tools and resources to research the literature more independently and deeply. In addition, students will learn fundamental ways that plants are different from animals and microbes. In each module, students will learn major concepts and skills from lectures and primary literature discussions. Students will also learn how to write a succinct critique of research papers and to analyze/present scientific papers to the class.

Class activities: There will be one lecture and one paper discussion class meeting each week. The discussion class is structured like a journal club, where individual students will lead discussions on specific sections of the paper. Students will write a 1-page critique of the paper and submit it before class (via Canvas or as a printout); faculty will provide feedback on composition and content. The Carnegie Spring Quarter Seminar Series will include speakers highly relevant to this class.  Students are encouraged to attend, Fridays 4 – 5 pm at 260 Panama with a special session after each talk for students to interact with the speaker.