This class is aimed at people interested in understanding the basic science of plant biology. In this four lecture series, we'll first learn about the structure-function of plants and of plant cells. Then we'll try to understand how plants grow and develop, making such complex structures as flowers. Once we know how plants grow and develop, we'll then delve into understanding photosynthesis - how plants take carbon dioxide from the air and water from soil, and turn this into oxygen for us to breathe
and sugars for us to eat. In the last lecture we'll learn about the fascinating, important and controversial science behind genetic engineering in agriculture.
If you haven't taken it already, you may also be interested in my other course - What A Plant Knows, which examines how plants see, smell, hear and feel their environment: https://www.coursera.org/learn/plantknows.
In order to receive academic credit for this course you must successfully pass the academic exam on campus. For information on how to register for the academic exam – https://tauonline.tau.ac.il/registration
Additionally, you can apply to certain degrees using the grades you received on the courses. Read more on this here –
https://go.tau.ac.il/b.a/mooc-acceptance
Teachers interested in teaching this course in their class rooms are invited to explore our Academic High school program here – https://tauonline.tau.ac.il/online-highschool
What's included
10 videos3 readings1 assignment2 plugins
Show info about module content
10 videos•Total 49 minutes
Course Promo•1 minute
1.1 All plants are made of cells•4 minutes
1.2 Different types of microscopy are used to study cells•6 minutes
1.3 Characteristics of plant cells•5 minutes
1.4 Plastids•3 minutes
1.5 The origin of chloroplasts•3 minutes
1.6 The cell wall•4 minutes
1.7 The vacuole and plasmodesmata•7 minutes
1.8 Vascular tissue - xylem•7 minutes
1.9 Vascular tissue – phloem•10 minutes
3 readings•Total 25 minutes
Before we begin•10 minutes
How to succeed in this course? PDF version•5 minutes
Suggested Reading - Week 1•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 24 minutes
Lecture 1 Quiz•24 minutes
2 plugins•Total 10 minutes
Opening survey•5 minutes
How to succeed in this course?•5 minutes
Whole-Plant Structure
Module 2•1 hour to complete
Module details
What's included
6 videos1 reading1 assignment
Show info about module content
6 videos•Total 38 minutes
2.1 Plant organs•5 minutes
2.2 Apical meristems•5 minutes
2.3 Root structure and development•11 minutes
2.4 Shoot apical meristem and development•4 minutes
2.5 Flower development•11 minutes
2.6 Development is regulated by gene expression•3 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Suggested Reading - Week 2•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 24 minutes
Lecture 2 Quiz•24 minutes
Photosynthesis
Module 3•1 hour to complete
Module details
What's included
8 videos1 reading1 assignment
Show info about module content
8 videos•Total 31 minutes
3.1 Chloroplast structure•2 minutes
3.2 Chemical currency: ATP and NADPH•5 minutes
3.3 Light and Photosynthesis•3 minutes
3.4 The light-dependent reactions and electron transfer•2 minutes
3.5 The Light-dependent Reactions and ATP•2 minutes
3.6 Phototsynthesis 2: The dark reactions and sugar synthesis•4 minutes
3.7 Discussion with Prof. Nir Ohad: The Carbon Cycle•7 minutes
3.8 Inside a photosynthesis lab•6 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Suggested Reading - Week 3•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Lecture 3 Quiz•30 minutes
Plant genetic engineering
Module 4•1 hour to complete
Module details
What's included
9 videos1 reading1 assignment1 plugin
Show info about module content
9 videos•Total 47 minutes
4.1 Introduction•5 minutes
4.2 Cultivated foods and genetic changes•6 minutes
4.3 Conventional breeding and genetic engineering methods•4 minutes
4.4 Recombinant DNA technology•8 minutes
4.5 Transgenic plants - proof of concept•6 minutes
4.6 Case study: Genetic engineering in combating viruses in agriculture•5 minutes
4.7 Examples of genetic engineering: Nutritional benefits•3 minutes
4.8 Potential of genetic engineering: I Insect resistant plants•4 minutes
4.9 Concerns about the use of genetic engineering in agriculture•7 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Suggested Reading - Week 4•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Lecture 4 Quiz•30 minutes
1 plugin•Total 3 minutes
Post Course Survey•3 minutes
Instructor
Instructor ratings
Instructor ratings
We asked all learners to give feedback on our instructors based on the quality of their teaching style.
Tel Aviv University (TAU) is Israel's largest institution of higher learning – with over 30,000 students and more than 125 schools and departments in nine faculties. Global in outlook and impact, it is consistently ranked among the world's top 100 universities, as well as the top 20 institutions in terms of scientific citations. A spirit of openness and innovation is evident in all of TAU's teaching and research activities, breaking down barriers between disciplines, and boldly striving to address the twenty-first century's most pressing challenges.
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Learner reviews
4.8
1,241 reviews
5 stars
84.21%
4 stars
13.84%
3 stars
1.28%
2 stars
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0.64%
Showing 3 of 1241
C
CF
5·
Reviewed on Jan 9, 2017
An interesting and informative course. A little challenging at times for those of us without a background in biology, but well presented and carefully explained. A very positive experience.
R
RG
5·
Reviewed on Oct 16, 2016
Very good. Each class is presented in a easy way, with short class, avoiding the course to become preachy, and with good classes about plant biotechnology
W
WF
4·
Reviewed on Apr 13, 2023
Part II had far less issues in the quizzes than Part I so it was far less frustrating. Part II is also much "deep" than Part I. I learnt quite a lot in both but Part II was more fun. Thank you.
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Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.