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Home » Publications » Plant Detectives Manual: a research-led approach for teaching plant science

Plant Detectives Manual: a research-led approach for teaching plant science

Cover
Title
Copyright
Preface by Professor Ian Chubb
The inspiration for the Plant Detectives Project
About this manual
General information about the Plant Detectives Project
- Introduction
- Mutants play a major role in understanding how plants work
- Why did we choose Arabidopsis?
- Working with Arabidopsis
- Objectives of the Plant Detectives Project
- Before the practical component
- Expected outcomes
- Assessment
- Working groups and peer mentors
- Experimental Outline
Activity 1: Observing the plant phenotype
- 1.1) Introduction and objectives
- 1.2) Materials
- 1.3) Procedure
- 1.4) Expected outcomes
Activity 2: Seed germination and root growth
- 2.1) Introduction and objectives
- 2.2) Materials
- 2.3) Procedure
- 2.4) Expected outcomes
Activity 3: Extraction and quantification of photosynthetic pigments
- 3.1) Introduction and objectives
- 3.2) Materials
- 3.3) Procedures
  - 3.3.1) Pigment extraction for spectrophotometric analyses
  - 3.3.2) Spectrophometric quantification
- 3.4) Expected outcomes
Activity 4: Qualitative analyses of photosynthetic pigments by thin-layer chromatography (TLC)
- 4.1) Introduction and objectives
- 4.2) Materials
- 4.3) Procedure
- 4.4) Expected outcomes
Activity 5: Qualitative analyses of photosynthetic pigments by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) — optional
- 5.1) Introduction and objectives
- 5.2) Materials
- 5.3) Procedure
  - 5.3.1) Total pigment extraction for HPLC analysis
  - 5.3.2) HPLC run
- 5.4) Expected outcomes
Activity 6: Quantification of anthocyanins
- 6.1) Introduction and objectives
- 6.2) Materials
- 6.3) Procedure
  - 6.3.1) Anthocyanin extraction
  - 6.3.2) Anthocyanin quantification
- 6.4) Expected outcomes
Activity 7: Gas exchange measurements on intact leaves — photosynthetic responses to light and CO2
- 7.1) Introduction and objectives
- 7.2) Materials
- 7.3) Procedure
  - 7.3.1) Measuring gas exchange parameters using an IRGA
- 7.4) Expected outcomes
Activity 8: Measuring stomatal conductance to water using a porometer
- 8.1) Introduction and objectives
- 8.2) Materials
- 8.3) Procedure
  - 8.3.1) Porometer calibration
  - 8.3.2) Porometer measurement
- 8.4) Expected outcomes
Activity 9: Drought response
- 9.1) Introduction and objectives
- 9.2) Materials
- 9.3) Procedure
- 9.4) Expected outcome
Activity 10: Microscopy analyses
- 10.1) Introduction and objectives
- 10.2) Materials
- 10.3) Procedure
  - 10.3.1) Examination of stem cross-sections
  - 10.3.2) Examination of root cross-sections (optional)
- 10.4) Expected outcome
Activity 11: Stomata and the effect of the hormone ABA
- 11.1) Introduction and objectives
- 11.2) Materials
- 11.3) Procedure
- 11.4) Expected outcome
Activity 12: Write-up and symposium
- 12.1) Sections and format of the manuscript
- 12.2) A few additional suggestions for improving scientific writing
- 12.3) Symposium
Appendices
- Appendix A: General rules for safety and conduct
- Appendix B: What do I do with my data?
- Appendix C: Arabidopsis growth stages
- Appendix D: Databases and web resources
- Appendix E: Software tips
- Appendix F: Seed sterilisation and plating
- Appendix G: Hazard sheet (risk assessment)
Acknowledgements
Bibliography
Notes

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Updated: 23 December 2022/ Responsible Officer: / Page Contact:

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