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 The Plant Biology specialization emphasizes the study of plants from their cellular structure to their role in the ecosystem.
You will examine the structure and development of plants in the context of their function as the primary producers on earth. You will learn about the physiology and biochemistry of plants from the basics of photosynthesis to the production of chemical compounds used for defense against herbivores, pests and pathogens.
You will also develop skills in plant identification, plant propagation, and molecular methods for studying plants and fungi. You will learn how natural selection has shaped the diversity of plants, explore the dynamics of plant communities in the ecosystem, and appreciate the role of plants in society as the source of food, fiber, fuel, medicinal compounds, poisons, and recreation.
Most courses offer laboratory classes that expand on the lecture material and introduce students to the latest techniques in plant biology. Many laboratory exercises use the excellent research and field facilities at the Morgan Arboretum, McGill Herbarium, Lods Centre, the Horticultural Centre and the Plant Science greenhouses, as well as McGill field stations. Students may undertake a research project under the guidance of a member of the Plant Science Department as part of their studies.
THIS SPECIALIZATION MAY BE TAKEN WITH ONE OF THE FOLLOWING MAJORS: Environmental Biology and Life Sciences.
For questions about the Plant Biology Specialization, please contact the bsc-advisor.agenvsc [at] mcgill.ca (student advisor).
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COURSE REQUIREMENTS: 24 credits
To view the list of courses:
Bachelor of Science (Agricultural and Environmental Sciences) (B.Sc.(Ag.Env.Sc.)) - Plant Biology (24 Credits)
Offered by:Natural Resource Sciences
Degree:B SC Agricu and Environm Sc
Program Requirement: This specialization emphasizes the study of plants from the cellular to the organismal level. The structure, physiology, development, evolution, and ecology of plants will be studied. Most courses offer laboratory classes that expand on the lecture material and introduce students to the latest techniques in plant biology. Many laboratory exercises use the excellent research and field facilities at the Morgan Arboretum, McGill Herbarium, Emile A. Lods Agronomy Research Centre, the Horticultural Centre and the Plant Science greenhouses as well as McGill field stations. Students may undertake a research project under the guidance of a member of the Plant Science Department as part of their studies. Graduates with the specialization may continue in post-graduate study or work in the fields of botany, mycology, molecular biology, ecology, conservation, or environmental science.
For information on academic advising, see: http://www.mcgill.ca/macdonald/studentinfo/advising
Required Courses (9 credits)-
PLNT 353
Plant Structure and Function
3 Credits
Offered in the: - Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Plant Science: The general anatomy and physiology of vascular plants with emphasis on how physiological processes influence function.
Offered by: Plant Science
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PLNT 358
Flowering Plant Diversity
3 Credits
Offered in the: - Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Plant Science: Principles of classification and identification of flowering plants and ferns, with emphasis on 35 major families of flowering plants and the habitats in which they grow.
Offered by: Plant Science
- A 4-day field week is held the week preceding the start of classes
- Prerequisite: AEBI 210 or ENVR 202 or permission of instructor
- A $95.46 fee is charged to all students registered in this course, which has a fieldwork component prior to the beginning of classes in August. This fee is used to support the cost of excursions, a hand lens, instructional handouts and identification aids. Students who have already received a hand lens may request a reimbursement of a portion of this charge through their department.
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PLNT 426
Plant Ecophysiology
3 Credits
Offered in the: - Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Plant Science: This course investigates the complex interactions between plants and their environment, focusing on the mechanisms underlying plant physiological processes. Plasticity of plants to their ecological environment; topics include phytoremediation, plant stress responses, plant-symbiosis and plant-insect interactions.
Offered by: Plant Science
Complementary Courses (15 credits)15 credits of complementary courses selected from:
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ANSC 326
Fundamentals of Pop'n Genetics
3 Credits
Offered in the: - Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Animal Science: Population genetics mechanisms in mammals, birds and plant. Factors influencing gene, genotype, and phenotypic frequencies. Effects of different types of selection, Hardy-Weinberg, linkage and recombination, polymorphisms and heterozygosity, population size, random drift and inbreeding on gene and genotype frequencies. Relationship between quantitative genetic parameters and gene frequencies.
Offered by: Animal Science
- Prerequisites: AEMA 310 and LSCI 204, or equivalents, or permission of the instructor.
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BINF 511
Bioinformatics for Genomics
3 Credits
Offered in the: - Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Bioinformatics: Bioinformatics methods and reasoning in relation to genomics, proteomics and metabolomics strategies with an emphasis on functional genomics data. The course will cover introduction to UNIX, Perl programming, data processing and integration, file parsing, relational database design and implementation, angled towards solutions relevant for genomics.
Offered by: Plant Science
- Prerequisite: Understanding of cell and molecular biology (equivalent to a cell or molecular biology course) or permission from instructor.
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ENVB 313
Phylogeny and Biogeography
3 Credits
Offered in the: - Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Environmental Biology: Topics in the interface of evolution, phylogenetics, and biogeography, including tree thinking, phylogeny estimation, and the processes that generate and maintain biodiversity. The major scientific discoveries that demonstrated how Earth’s history affects the evolution of organisms, including the unheard voices of evolutionary biology.
Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year
- Instructors
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PLNT 304
Biology of Fungi
3 Credits
Offered in the: - Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Plant Science: This course describes the various groups of fungi and explores in depth their biology and physiology, their ecological niches and the role in various ecosystems and their benefits and uses in industry and biotechnology.
Offered by: Plant Science
- 3 lectures and one 3-hour lab
- Restriction: U2 or above, or permission of instructor.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year
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PLNT 305
Plant Pathology
3 Credits
Offered in the: - Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Plant Science: The theory and concepts of plant pathology, including the disease cycle, infection, symptoms, resistance, epidemiology and control. The biology and taxonomy of pathogens will be studied, including fungi, bacteria, viruses and nematodes. Techniques of inoculation, isolation of pathogens from diseased plants, disease diagnosis and pathogen identification will be demonstrated.
Offered by: Plant Science
- 3 lectures and one 3-hour lab
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PLNT 310
Plant Propagation
3 Credits
Offered in the: - Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Plant Science: Principles and practical aspects of plant propagation are examined. The course consists of two parts. The first third deals with sexual propagation; the production, processing storage certification and analysis of seeds. The remaining two-thirds deals with vegetative propagation; cutting, budding, grafting, layering, and tissue culture.
Offered by: Plant Science
- 3 lectures and one 3-hour lab
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PLNT 435
Plant Breeding
3 Credits
Offered in the: - Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Plant Science: Principles and practices of plant breeding, including reproduction of crop plants; plant hybridization; sources of genetic variation; selection methods used for self- and cross-pollinated crops and for clonally reproduced crops; breeding for diseases and pest resistance; applications of biotechnology in plant breeding.
Offered by: Plant Science
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PLNT 460
Plant Ecology
3 Credits
Offered in the: - Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Plant Science: Theory and practice of plant ecology with an emphasis on the interaction between patterns and ecological processes and the dynamics, conservation and management of plant populations and communities over a range of temporal and spatial scales.
Offered by: Plant Science
- 3 lectures and one 3-hour lab
- Prerequisite: AEMA 310 or permission of instructor.
- This course carries an additional charge of $170.00 to cover the cost of transportation (bus rental) for local field trips. The fee is refundable only during the withdrawal with full refund period.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year
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CAREER PATHS CAN INCLUDE:
Field biologist; research technician (field or lab); forest management; environmental biologist; ethnobotanist; conservation biologist; plant pathologist; museum curator; manager, educator, or researcher in a botanical garden; horticulturalist; environmental assessment specialist; botanist in national and provincial parks or forests or ecological reserves; researcher in fields of botany, mycology, ecology, molecular biology, plant pathology, or genetics if you continue in this field for graduate studies.
For more career paths, please visit the Career Planning Service (CaPS) website.
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