BIO644 Advanced Plant Physiology
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Mar 03, 2026
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Genetics and Bioengineering
Mohamed Ibrahim
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of BIO644, students will possess theoretical and practical knowledge in: 1. Plant physiology and plant-environment interaction through molecular mechanisms. 2. Basic and advanced concepts of plant physiology, molecular interactions, and environmental signaling, including mechanisms for plant disease resistance, nutritional quality, molecular mechanisms for stress tolerance under biotic and abiotic conditions. 3. The techniques involved in molecular plant physiology such as plant DNA/RNA molecular elements, plant tissue interactions with environment and model plants involved in plant physiology research. 4. Analysis of specific case studies within the field of molecular plant physiology through written reading reactions aimed at a literature review publication.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
1- BIOENGINEERINGAND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF PLANT PATHWAYS 2- Hopkins and Huner, Introduction to Plant Physiology.
Additional Literature
CURRENT LITERATURE (JOURNAL ARTICLES): Plant Physiology, The Plant Cell, Journal of Plant Physiology, Physiologia Plantarum andPlant Physiology and BiochemistrTeaching Methods
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to Modern Plant Physiology | |
| 2 | Metabolic Organization in Plants: A Challenge for the Metabolic Engineer | Chapter 1 book1 |
| 3 | Engineering Photosynthetic Pathways | Chapter 4 book1 |
| 4 | Literature of advances in Photosynthesis (article analysis) | |
| 5 | Genetic Engineering of Seed Storage Proteins | Chapter 5 book 1 |
| 6 | Project Discussion and Initiation | |
| 7 | Responses of Plants to Environmental Stress | Chapter 13 book 2 |
| 8 | Midterm Exam | |
| 9 | Project Progress 1 | |
| 10 | Acclimation to Environmental Stress | Chapter 14 book 2 |
| 11 | Project Progress 2 | |
| 12 | Secondary Metabolites | chapter 27 book2 |
| 13 | Project Progress 3 | |
| 14 | Project Submission and Presentations | |
| 15 | Review |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 12:00 - 15:00 | A F1.14 | |
| Tuesday | 10:00 - 12:00 | A F1.14 | |
| Wednesday | 10:00 - 12:00 | A F1.14 | |
| Thursday | 10:00 - 12:00 | A F1.14 | |
| Friday | 10:00 - 12:00 | A F1.14 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Project progress
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Term papers
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Presentation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Home study
60 hours ⏳ (15 week × 4 h)
In-term exam study
10 hours ⏳ (1 week × 10 h)
Presentation project
15 hours ⏳ (1 week × 15 h)
project progress
20 hours ⏳ (4 week × 5 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [BIO644] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Mar 03, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| BIO644 | Advanced Plant Physiology | 3 | 0 | 6 | Tuesday 15:00 - 17:50 | |||||
| Prerequisite | None | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Mohamed Ibrahim | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Monday: 12:00-15:00 Tuesday: 10:00-12:00 Wednesday: 10:00-12:00 Thursday: 10:00-12:00 Friday: 10:00-12:00 |
|||||||
| mragab@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | Upon successful completion of BIO644, students will possess theoretical and practical knowledge in: 1. Plant physiology and plant-environment interaction through molecular mechanisms. 2. Basic and advanced concepts of plant physiology, molecular interactions, and environmental signaling, including mechanisms for plant disease resistance, nutritional quality, molecular mechanisms for stress tolerance under biotic and abiotic conditions. 3. The techniques involved in molecular plant physiology such as plant DNA/RNA molecular elements, plant tissue interactions with environment and model plants involved in plant physiology research. 4. Analysis of specific case studies within the field of molecular plant physiology through written reading reactions aimed at a literature review publication. |
|||||||||
| Textbook | 1- BIOENGINEERINGAND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF PLANT PATHWAYS 2- Hopkins and Huner, Introduction to Plant Physiology. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
| Teaching Methods | ||||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction to Modern Plant Physiology | |||||||||
| Week 2 | Metabolic Organization in Plants: A Challenge for the Metabolic Engineer | Chapter 1 book1 | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Engineering Photosynthetic Pathways | Chapter 4 book1 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Literature of advances in Photosynthesis (article analysis) | |||||||||
| Week 5 | Genetic Engineering of Seed Storage Proteins | Chapter 5 book 1 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Project Discussion and Initiation | |||||||||
| Week 7 | Responses of Plants to Environmental Stress | Chapter 13 book 2 | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Midterm Exam | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Project Progress 1 | |||||||||
| Week 10 | Acclimation to Environmental Stress | Chapter 14 book 2 | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Project Progress 2 | |||||||||
| Week 12 | Secondary Metabolites | chapter 27 book2 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Project Progress 3 | |||||||||
| Week 14 | Project Submission and Presentations | |||||||||
| Week 15 | Review | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Project progress | 3 | 10 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Term papers | 2 | 5 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Presentation | 1 | 20 | Not Allowed | ||
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 15 | 45 | Home study | 4 | 15 | 60 | |||
| In-term exam study | 10 | 1 | 10 | Presentation project | 15 | 1 | 15 | |||
| project progress | 5 | 4 | 20 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 27/03/2026 | |||||||||