The integration of molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, next-generation sequencing, genome editing and cell biology has had an enormous impact on plant science in recent years. This course will present current understanding in several key areas and demonstrate how conceptual and technical advances provide new insights in plant biology and new approaches for crop improvement and agriculture. Two introductory lectures will be given on plant structure and function prior to the major topics spanning the seven topics listed in the activity summary. Each topic will be presented by researchers from the Research School of Biology or CSIRO Agriculture and Food who are recognised research leaders in an area covered by their lecture topic.

BIOL3177 is an advanced course that requires a basic understanding in one, or preferably more, of the areas of molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, cell biology or plant structure and function.

Honours Pathway Option (HPO)

Entry to this option will be subject to the approval of the course conveners. Students who take this option will be required to present a report on a research paper. The report will reduce the assessment values of the seven Lecture Module Exams (i.e. assessments that replace a final end of semester exam).

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Understand and describe the problems being addressed and the advances achieved in molecular plant science.
2. Understand and describe several advanced molecular techniques and how they are being used to achieve advances in molecular plant science.
3. Search bibliographic databases to identify and critically evaluate papers reporting recent advances in molecular plant science.
4. Understand a selection of plant-science-related molecular techniques and to present and interpret data generated by these techniques in writing.

Research-Led Teaching

Each lecture module is given by an ANU or CSIRO researcher undertaking leading internationally-recognised research in an area covered by their lecture topic.

Examination Material or equipment

None

Required Resources

All reading material will be provided on the course Canvas site or is accessible through the ANU library.

Recommended Resources

Reading material:

Plant science research and review journals available through the ANU library.

Other requirements:

Whether you are on campus or studying online, there are a variety of online platforms you will use to participate in your study program. These could include videos for lectures and other instruction, two-way video conferencing for interactive learning, email and other messaging tools for communication, interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities, print and/or photo/scan for handwritten work and drawings, and home-based assessment.

ANU outlines recommended student system requirements to ensure you are able to participate fully in your learning. Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Other Information

This course is an Honours Pathway Option.

• Non HPO assessment will be based on tasks 1, 2, and 3.
• HPO assessment will be based on tasks 1, 2, 3 and an additional task 4 (below) noting that the % value of the task 3 will be adjusted as per the detail in the assessment detail box.

Assessment Task 4- HPO students only:

Journal Club Essay

The essay reviews recent advances made in an area of research related to a recent advance in plant science. The essay is approximately 2,000 words in length (plus or minus 10%). The essay will be based on one of the ‘seed papers’ proposed by the course convenors. The topic of the essay must be different to the one chosen for the seminar presentation (Assessment tasks 1 and 2 above). Copies of the ‘seed papers' for this Essay will be made available on Canvas during week 1 for students to choose one. Written instructions on how to complete the essay are available on Canvas and will be explained to participating students via a meeting in the 2nd week of semester. 

Only students who wish to complete the HPO need to complete this assessment. Please talk to the course convener for more information.

Due: 2026-05-29

Returned: 2026-06-14

Value: HPO - 15%

Linked Learning outcomes: 1,2,3,4,5

Additional Learning Outcome for HPO (LO5): Analyse in depth, and critically evaluate, papers reporting recent advances in molecular plant science, and present orally the findings of the papers, placing them in context and providing critical commentary, using appropriate visual aids.

Teaching Activities

Lectures will be presented in person and recorded then made available through Canvas. Where possible, copies of lecture slides will be made available on Canvas at least one day prior to their presentation.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction to course Plant structure and function
2	Bringing cell biology to life	Lecture Module Exam 1 Note: Non-HPO students: Each LME weighted at 12.5% up to a maximum total summed weighting of 75% (i.e., top 6 exam grades) HPO students: Each LME weighted at 10% up to a maximum total summed weighting of 60% (i.e., top 6 exam grades)
3	Next Gen tools in plant biology
4	Plants and changing seasons	Lecture Module Exam 2 (see Note above)
5	Pre-seminar tutorial	Lecture Module Exam 3 (see Note above) Pre-seminar tutorial (5%)
6	Genotype to phenotype and back
7	Genotype to phenotype and back (continuation) Plant pathogens and resistance	Lecture Module Exam 4 (see Note above)
8	Plant pathogens and resistance (continuation)
9	Seminars	Lecture Module Exam 5 (see Note above) Seminar (20%)
10	Seminars (continuation) Cell and organelle signaling
11	Cell and organelle signaling (continuation) Peptide hormone signaling	Lecture Module Exam 6 (see Note above)
12	Peptide hormone signaling (continuation)	Lecture Module Exam 7 (see Note above) HPO students: Journal club essay (15%)

Tutorial Registration

ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Pre-seminar outline document and tutorial	5 %	25/03/2026	03/04/2026	1,2,3,4
Seminar: Review of a research topic	20 %	04/05/2026	29/05/2026	1,2
Written Lecture Module Exams (LMEs)	75 %	06/03/2026	10/06/2026	1,2,3,4

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Extenuating Circumstances Application
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Canvas’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Students must present a seminar and attempt at least five of the seven Lecture Module Exams. These are course requirements. Failure to meet either of these course requirements will result in a NCN fail.

Examination(s)

The examination in this course will take the form of seven ~40 min Lecture Module Exams (LMEs) held in the fifth lecture of each of the seven topic modules.

Assessment Task 1

Pre-seminar outline document and tutorial

Details about the seminar are provided under Assessment Task 2 below. To assist in this task, part of the assessment involves preparation of a seminar outline document for review with 2-6 other students in a 45 min tutorial with a course lecturer. The outline document should provide a description of the structure/sub-headings that you intend to use in the seminar, a list of three to five research papers upon which the seminar will be based and a brief summary (no more than 5 sentences) of the relevance of each research paper to the seed paper upon which the seminar is based. The outline document should be no more than one page in length (single spacing).

The due date reflects the deadline for submission of the outline document through Canvas using Turnitin. The document will be reviewed by the lecturer prior to the pre-seminar tutorial.

Assessment Task 2

Seminar: Review of a research topic

The seminar will report on recent advances made in an area of research related to one of the lecture modules. The duration of the seminar will be 15 minutes followed by 5 min of question time. The content of the seminars will be based on one of the ‘seed papers’ proposed by lecturers in the course. Copies of the ‘seed papers' will be available on Canvas during the first week of semester. Students should look at the papers and choose one that will form the foundation topic of their seminar.

Written instructions on how to prepare and present a seminar will be:

• made available on Canvas,
• explained in the first lecture, and
• in a class tutorial at the end of week 5. 

The due date for the seminars reflects them being run during weeks 9/10. Students unable to present their seminars in person on medical grounds will be able to present their seminar online. The oral presentations will be marked by the course conveners and lecturers.

Assessment Task 3

Written Lecture Module Exams (LMEs)

The date range for Lecture Module Exams (LMEs) represents the date of the first module LME to that of the last (seventh) lecture module. The LMEs will be held in the 5th lecture of each module. Completion of at least five of the seven LMEs is required to satisfy this assessment task with the result of each LME weighted at 12.5% up to a maximum total summed weighting of 75%. For those who complete all 7 LMEs, the top 6 results will be used to calculate the LME grade worth 75% of the final course grade. The LMEs will be held during the allocated lecture and completed as a hand-written assessment in the lecture room with students able to bring a one-page summary of their notes for the lecture module. Each LME mark will be made available through Canvas within two weeks of completion. Further details will be found on the Course Canvas site.

Value:

Non-HPO students - 75%

HPO students - 60% (Each LME will be weighted at 10% up to a maximum total summed weighting of 60% towards final grade for course. The remaining 15% will be for the Journal Club Essay, assessment item #4 as indicated in Other Information below)

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material. Any use of artificial intelligence must be properly referenced. Failure to properly cite use of Generative AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

Returning Assignments

Marks for the pre-seminar outline document and tutorial will be made available through Canvas before the end of week 6. Verbal feedback from lecturer will be provided during the tutorial in week 5.

Results for LMEs will be made available through Canvas within 2 weeks of completion.

Feedback and grades for the seminars will be returned during week 12.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Resubmission of assignments is only permitted for the HPO Journal Club Essay for the purposes of originality checking via Turnitin.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Accessibility for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students