NES2308 : The Life of Plants
- Offered for Year: 2026/27
- Module Leader(s): Dr Vasilios Andriotis
- Lecturer: Dr Patricia Lopez-Calcagno, Dr Tahar Taybi
- Owning School: Natural and Environmental Sciences
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
The module aims to:
(1) provide in depth understanding and knowledge of how plants develop in their natural environment, including the mechanisms of growth and differentiation, how they respond to environmental stimuli to make co-ordinated adjustments at the physiological, biochemical and molecular levels that facilitate growth in stressful conditions in the face of climate change. This knowledge and understanding will underpin the more specialised areas that students will encounter in Stage 3 modules in advances in plant biology, current research in biotechnology and global solutions.
(2) provide intensive training through laboratory work to develop knowledge, understanding, skills and competency in current experimental methodologies used to study plant growth, development, biochemistry and responses to the environment. Students will be exposed to the scientific methods underpinning plant biology research through a logical series of interconnected experiments to answer specific questions about plant growth and responses to the environment. This will allow students to collect, analyse and present experimental data in lab reports, and link this with the knowledge gained in the theory-part of the module.
(3) develop and enhance student skills in data analysis, interpretation, and presentation, as well as in the evaluation of scientific literature and self-directed learning.
The module, together with other Stage 2 modules, will provide students with the underpinning theoretical plant biology knowledge and the practical and data processing skills and competencies needed for final year molecular biology and biotechnology modules, as well as for final year laboratory-based research projects offered by the School.
Outline Of Syllabus
The module has two distinct aspects: ‘Theory’ (Lectures and Research Seminars) and ‘Practical’ (blocks of laboratory classes and workshops).
The lectures will provide the theoretical knowledge and factual material underpinning plant growth and development and responses to the environment, as well as experimental methodologies used to study plants. Topics will include e.g. mechanisms of growth and differentiation, seed development and germination, pattern (e.g. leaves) formation, photosynthesis mechanisms, flowering, molecular and physiological responses to abiotic stress, biotechnology. This knowledge and understanding underpins the ‘Practical’ aspect of the module - students can use as much of the theory aspects as they see fit in their practical write-ups.
The ‘Practical’ aspect will involve two blocks of laboratory work that will give students hands-on experience in important laboratory techniques with appropriate supervision and guidance. These two ‘Practical’ blocks will involve week-long mini-projects that relate to content introduced during the ‘Theory’ part of the module. These mini-projects will comprise three consecutive lab sessions during which students will be taken through a logical sequence of experimentation to answer specific questions on e.g., plant growth and development and/or molecular responses to abiotic stress. Students will be provided with training in appropriate methodologies in molecular biology, biochemistry and physiology, guidance and supervision to collect, analyse and interpret data. These skills will be developed further during workshops that will follow laboratory sessions. Lab reports will assess knowledge and understanding of methodology, interpretation and presentation of data.
Independent study both during lectures and the practical blocks, will allow students understand and absorb information gained from practical work, deepen knowledge and understanding through reading of supporting references and the broader scientific literature in the field, and to prepare assignments (lab reports).
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | Module introduction, rationale of delivery and module assessment |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 40 | 0:20 | 13:20 | Online - A combination of short recordings of lecture material and text published on VLE each week. |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 25:00 | 25:00 | Lab report 2 (70%) |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 17 | 1:00 | 17:00 | Present in Person, on campus - sessions covering module content, Q&A. |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 10:00 | 10:00 | Lab report 1 (30%) |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 3 | 3:00 | 9:00 | Practical block 2 – present in person, students will be in the laboratory for practical sessions |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 3 | 3:00 | 9:00 | Practical block 1 – present in person, students will be in the laboratory for practical sessions |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 2 | 1:00 | 2:00 | Present in Person research seminars on topics relating to module lecture content |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 2 | 2:00 | 4:00 | Two workshops, one each scheduled in the same week as the two practical blocks. |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 109:40 | 109:40 | Student selected study of module content short recordings, seminars, ReCap, Canvas, textbooks, etc. |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The lectures provide theoretical information and factual material that, together with the online material available through the VLE, will allow students to gain thorough understanding of the mechanisms of plant development and survival in challenging environments, from the molecular to the whole plant levels. These will be complemented with seminars that will highlight current plant biology research and the broader scientific literature in the field.
The practicals, designed to be an authentic lab experience at Stage 2 level, will give students hands-on experience in modern methodology in molecular biology, biochemistry, and physiology as they are applied to plant biology research; the extended time available will allow demonstration, learning, practice, and competency in practical skills involved. The mini-projects embedded in practical classes blocks will encourage the formulation and testing of hypotheses, and development of skills in data collection, analysis, interpretation and presentation. Private, independent study of lecture content, of recommended primary research articles and the broader scientific literature in the field will provide in depth understanding of the biological processes and systems involved as well as the scientific method and methodology involved in modern plant biology research. This will also underpin report writing in the format of a primary research publication.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practical/lab report | 1 | M | 30 | Lab report, analysing and reporting on experimental results (1000 words). |
| Practical/lab report | 1 | M | 70 | Lab report, analysing and reporting on experimental results (1000 words). |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer assessment | 1 | M | Series of short quizzes during ‘Theory’ (Lectures) weeks, students receive feedback as soon as they submit their response |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Lectures, formative quizzes and practical exercises provide the basis for questions in the formal examination, which focuses on testing depth and breadth of knowledge and general understanding of the subject area. The practical reports are designed to assess the ability to design and perform hypothesis-driven research, record findings and interpret experimental results.
Study Abroad students may request to take their exam before the semester 1 exam period, in which case the format of the paper may differ from that shown in the MOF. Study Abroad students should contact the school to discuss this.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- NES2308's Timetable