Teaching:
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Plants and Civilization (BIOL 2204)

Harvesting grass species in the wild resulted in the domestication of our crops
A field of domesticated wheat

To study the role plants played in the origin of civilization and the impact of plants on our everyday lives. The impact of economic plants at the national and global levels will be discussed. The course will examine the botany, diversity, and importance of crop plants such as those used for food, fiber, medicine, and drugs. The origin and future of agriculture and the human impact on plants will also be studies. The course will include discussion forums and will require two writing assignments.

A representation of the world's major crops. There are not very many of them!
Collecting plants for medicinal uses resulted in the move from herbals to modern medicine.

 

Plant Taxonomy (BIOL 3204)

The course exposes the students to the classification and identification of flowering plants. It covers the historical changes in plant taxonomy, highlights recent advancements in the field, surveys flowering plant families, and provides students with experience in filed identification. The course includes a required laboratory-field trip component.

Graduate Students on a Field Trip for their Plant Taxonomy class.

 

Plant Variation, Evolution and Systematics (BIOL5984)

A graduate course in a discussion format focusing on variation, evolution and systematics. The course covers topics such as Systematics and the Synthetic Theory of Evolution; Ecological vs. Genetic Components of Variation; Polyploidy: Types and Origin; Breeding Systems: Compatibility and Pollination; Apomixis and Vegetative Reproduction; Hybridization and Introgression; Species Concepts: Plants - Animal - Microorganisms. It also discusses the use of molecular, genetic, and biochemical sources of information in the field. The course includes a laboratory that trains students in molecular and cytogenetic techniques and in the use of computers in data analyses.

Emphasis on molecular laboratory techniques is given in the course.

 

Botanizing the Alps (BIOL 4984 & 5984)

This class takes you to Riva St. Vitale, Virginia Tech's villa in Switzerland, to use botany skills in an international environment.

The ecological and botanical diversity are extraordinary.

The Virginia Tech Facility at Riva St. Vitale is a very nice facility (villa) located between the mountains and the lake.