Enhancement of Undergraduate Education in Plant Biology and Molecular Biology

植物生物学是生物学教育中比较被忽视的领域之一。农业研究型大学的招生人数越来越少，特别是植物科学。然而，现实情况是，农业研究、作物管理和改良、土地管理和环境问题越来越受到世界的关注。植物对社会的贡献无处不在。例如，植物一直是制药业的关键组成部分。最近，乙醇汽油迅速被视为一种现实的可再生燃料来源。然而，令人遗憾的是，在许多学院和大学的生物学课程中，植物生物学教育的缺失是显而易见的。该部门建议在生物学课程中提高植物科学教育的重要性，方法是在使用植物作为模型系统的科学实验室中增加更多动手的方法。植物新陈代谢研究为学生提供了一个很好的实验室体验，让他们观察涉及有机体、细胞和分子方面的过程。正在建立研究项目，研究重金属和盐等环境压力对植物功能的影响。这些影响可以通过生理和生化测量来量化，也可以在基因表达的水平上进行观察。使用新设备的植物生物学模型程序可以用来询问涉及植物新陈代谢的重要过程。这种研究性研究模式可以特别影响本科植物生物学教育和一般的调查性科学教育。该仪器还可能加强其他高级课程和非专业的生物学核心课程。

One of the more neglected areas in Biology education is Plant Biology. Agricultural research universities have seen an increasing drop in enrollment, especially in the plant sciences. Yet, the reality is that agricultural research, crop management and improvement, land management, and environmental problems are a growing concern in the world. The contribution of plants to society is ubiquitous. For example, plants have always been a critical component of the pharmaceutical industry. More recently, gasohol has quickly come to be viewed as a realistic source of renewable fuel. However, the lack of education in Plant Biology is sadly evident within Biology curricula in many colleges and universities. The department proposes to elevate the importance of Plant Science education in a Biology curriculum by adding a more hands-on approach to science laboratories using plants as a model system. Plant metabolism studies provide a good laboratory experience for students to observe a process involving organismic, cellular, and molecular aspects. Research projects are being set up that examine the effects of environmental stresses such as heavy metals and salt on plant functions. The effects can be quantified using physiological and biochemical measurements as well as being viewed at the level of gene expression. A model Plant Biology program, using new equipment, can be used to ask questions about important processes involving plant metabolism. This model for investigative research can specifically influence undergraduate Plant Biology education and investigative science education in general. The instrumentation may also enhance other advanced courses and a Biology core course for nonmajors.