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Botany is the area of biology that deals with plants, fungi and photosynthetic microorganisms. Humans and all other animals
are dependent on green plants and algae as the main source of our food and our oxygen. Knowledge of plant biology is
essential for solving some of society's most pressing problems such as
feeding our increasing population and maintaining the
earth's fragile ecosystems. Plant biology is an increasingly active research
area, and the past decade has already brought
major advances in understanding how plants function. Many new possibilities have been developed for the better use of plants
by people, including the engineering of improved crops, weed control, plant breeding and the industrial production of plant-
derived biochemicals such as anticancer drugs.
The areas of specialization within botany that address problems of importance
to humans include: Plant Biotechnology which
uses molecular biology to exploit the genetic and biochemical potential of
plants; Plant Pathology which is the study of plant
diseases. Problems relating to the chemistry, physics and control of cellular
processes are considered in the fields of
Biochemistry, Development and Molecular Biology. The unique aspects of whole
organisms are addressed also in Plant
Development (multicellular plants) and in Mycology (fungi) and Phycology
(algae). Ecology deals with the interaction of plants
with their environment, while Evolutionary and Systematic Botany analyzes
both the processes and products of evolution.
Many botany specialists find careers in government research laboratories,
hospitals, museums, environmental consulting
companies, agricultural firms and, increasingly, with biotechnology research
institutes and private companies. Others teach at
either the secondary school or university level. Specialization in Botany
or Biology at the undergraduate level is sufficient for
some kinds of employment, while others require an advanced degree (M.Sc.
or Ph.D.).
A student who wishes to specialize in Botany should seek advice from the
Botany Undergraduate Office. Generally, a
foundation in chemistry, mathematics and (usually) physics is advisable
for the study of plant biology. It is also required that
students take introductory courses dealing with three aspects of biology:
1) molecular/cellular (BIO250Y1), 2)
organismal (BOT
251Y1), and 3) ecological/evolutionary (BIO150Y1)
before specializing further in a plant biology subdiscipline. The Department
of Botany Undergraduate Office gives further information about courses
and programs.
Associate Chair (Undergraduate):
Professor R.F. Sage, Room 2072, Earth Sciences Centre
Undergraduate Administrator:
Mr. I. Buglass, Room 3055A, Earth Sciences Centre (416-978-7172)
Botany Programs
Biogeography: see Geography
Biology: see Biology
Note: Students in these Programs are encouraged to notify the Botany Undergraduate
Office, Room 3055A, Earth Sciences
Centre of their course selections, beginning in the Second Year
Botany (Science program)
Specialist program:
(12 full courses or their equivalent, including at least one 400-series course)
Enrolment in this program requires completion of four courses, including BIO150Y1 and CHM138H1, CHM139H1/CHM151Y1 and
one
100-series course from CSC108H1, CSC148H1; JMB170Y1/MAT135Y1/MAT136Y1/MAT137Y1; PHY110Y1/PHY138Y1/PHY140Y1;
no minimum
GPA is required.
First and Second Years:
1. BIO150Y1; CHM138H1, CHM139H1/CHM151Y1
2. Two courses from: BCH210H1; (CHM220H1, CHM247H1); CSC108H1, CSC148H1; JMB170Y1/MAT135Y1/MAT136Y1/MAT137Y1; PHY
110Y1/138Y1/140Y1; STA220H1, (STA221H1/JBS229H1)
3. BIO250Y1, BIO260H1; BOT251Y1
Higher Years:
1. ENV234Y1 or 1.0 courses from: BIO319H1, BIO321H1, BIO323H1, BIO324H1; BOT300H1, BOT307H1
2. 2.5 courses from: BIO302H1, BIO303H1, BIO305H1, BIO306H1, BIO308H1, BIO328H1, BIO349H1, BIO351Y1; BOT 300+ series
3. 2.0 courses from: BIO428H1,BIO440H1, BIO472H1, BIO473H1; BOT 400-series; MGY460H1
Major program:
(8 full courses or their equivalent)
Enrolment in this program requires completion of four courses, including BIO150Y1 and CHM138H1, CHM139H1/CHM151Y1 and
one
course from: CSC108H1, CSC148H1; JMB170Y1/ MAT135Y1/MAT136Y1/MAT137Y1;
PHY1 110Y1/138Y1/140Y1; no minimum GPA is
required.
First Year:
1. BIO150Y1; CHM138H1, CHM139H1/CHM151Y1
2. One course from: CSC108H1, CSC148H1; JMB170Y1/MAT135Y1/MAT136Y1/MAT137Y1; PHY110Y1/PHY138Y1/PHY140Y1
Higher Years:
1. BIO250Y1; BOT251Y1
2. One 200+ level course in BCH210H1, BIO, BOT, ENV234Y1 (excluding BOT202Y1)
3. Two courses from: BIO302H1, BIO303H1, BIO305H1, BIO306H1, BIO308H1, BIO328H1, BIO349H1, BIO351Y1, BIO428H1, BIO440H1, BIO472H1, BIO473H1; BOT
300+ series; MGY460H1
Minor program:(4 full courses or their equivalent)
Enrolment in this program requires completion of four courses, including BIO150Y1;
no minimum GPA is required.
1. BIO150Y1; BOT251Y1
2. One full course from BIO/BOT/ENV/MGY460H1 (excluding BOT202Y1)
3. One BOT 300+ level course
Bioinformatics and Computational Biology: see
Biochemistry
Developmental Biology: see Biology
Ecology: see Biology
Evolutionary Biology: see Biology
Molecular Plant Biology (Science program)
Specialist program:
(11.5 or 12 full courses or their equivalent, including at least one 400-series
course)
Enrolment in this program requires completion of four courses, including BIO150Y1, CHM138H1, CHM139H1/CHM151Y1 and
JMB
170Y1/MAT135Y1/MAT136Y1/MAT137Y1;
no minimum GPA is required.
First Year:
BIO150Y1; CHM138H1, CHM139H1/CHM151Y1; JMB170Y1/MAT135Y1/MAT136Y1/MAT137Y1
Second Year:
BCH210H1, BIO250Y1, BIO260H1; BOT251Y1; CHM220H1, CHM247H1
Third and Fourth Years:
1. BOT 458H1; BIO349H1/MGY311Y1*; MGY460H1
2. 3.0 courses from BIO351Y1, BIO472H1, BIO473H1; BOT301H1, BOT340H1, BOT341H1, BOT350H1, BOT421H1, BOT450H1, BOT460Y1, 461H1, BOT462Y1,
463H1
NOTE: no Molecular Plant Biology Major program exists; therefore, a student
may qualify for a Botany major after third year.
*With permission of Undergraduate Secretary, Department of Medical Genetics
and Molecular Biology
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