300428 VO Plant Ultra Structure and Cytology (2023W)

Students will acquire information about structural details from plant cells as derived from studies in the light and electron microscope at the cell, tissue and organ level. Structure is related to plants functioning properly within their specific environment and to plant diversity as was developed during evolution. Together with molecular phylogeny, ultrastructure presents a tool for the reliable classification of organisms.

Students will also get acquainted with basic structure and function of plant nucleus and its interactions with other organelles. Plant nuclear genome structure, as well as main chromosomal structures will be introduced, including novel findings through application of the state-of-the art genomic techniques. Plastid and mitochondrial genome structure and evolution will be presented. Types and consequences of various genomic changes, including polyploidy and more subtle chromosomal rearrangements as well as dynamics of both coding and repetitive DNA genome fraction will be discussed in the context of (comparative) genome evolution.