Instructor: Professor Shelley Lumba (shelley.lumba@utoronto.ca)
Offered: Fall 2026 (6 weeks, likely starting Monday, November 2nd)
Schedule: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM, Monday, Wednesday
Weight: One module (0.25 FCE)
Location: Earth Sciences Centre, room 3087
Enrolment: Limited to 4 graduate students
Description:
This is a problem-based and grant writing course which discusses plant signaling transduction from the perspective of developmental biology with an emphasis on model genetic systems.
Learning Outcomes
The expectations for the course are the following:
- demonstrate a clear understanding of fundamental principles of signaling as it pertains plant development
- develop the ability to solve molecular genetics problems
- develop critical thinking skills to analyze and evaluate scientific literature and research findings
- actively participate in class discussions and engage with course materials
- develop grant writing skills, including conceiving and generating an original grant application based on plant signal transduction.
By the end of this course, students will:
- have a clear understanding of how to experimentally dissect signal transduction in plant development
- conceive and write an original grant application based on a theme/topic related to plant signal transduction.
Lecture topics change from year to year to reflect new discoveries in this rapidly advancing area of molecular genetics. Recent topics have included:
- Functional genomics: linking gene structure and function
- Genetic principles of signalling
- Plant hormone signalling
- Regulation of flowering
- Light regulation of development
Evaluation:
Participation: 20%; Test (final exam period): 30%; Grant proposal: 15%; Grant: 35%
Last updated on June 24th, 2026