Credit Hours - 3

This course delves into the application of the study of plant anatomy. The course will discuss the following broad areas: plant identification in biological research and social issues, classification and phylogeny; plant pathology, food adulterations and contaminations, dendrochronology, ecological plant anatomy, crime scene detection and animal feeding habits. The use of plant anatomy in the study of pharmacognosy will be emphasized.

Credit Hours - 3

The course aims at equipping students with knowledge on the relationship between freshwater organisms and their physical environments. It includes analysis of the chemical composition of these environments, with consideration given to waste management and water purification processes. The course will also introduce students to important freshwater plant groups and their biology

Credit Hours - 3

This course is designed to broaden students’ knowledge of the molecular approach to the study of genetics. The following areas will be highlighted: classical and modern concepts in molecular genetics, molecular nature of genes, gene function and methods in molecular genetics. The course will emphasize the application of these concepts in gene manipulation of bacteria, plants and animals in research. 

Credit Hours - 3

This course is designed to treat students to the elements and principles of plant breeding. Practical breeding methods for cowpea and maize will be emphasized. Application of introductory quantitative genetics to plant breeding will be discussed. Cytological methods in breeding will also be emphasized. The importance of plant breeding to society will be treated

Credit Hours - 2

The course introduces students to various viruses in animals, humans and plants of economic and health importance. Emphasis will be on classification scheme of animal and plant viruses and virus replication in host-plant interactions. The course will expose students to the following viruses of health importance: herpes viruses, hepatitis virus, rhabdoviruses, arboviruses, influenza virus, poxviruses, human immunodeficiency / HIV / AIDS virus, Ebola virus, etc.  The students will be introduced to viral diseases of economic crops, e.g., cocoa swollen shoot virus, tobacco mosaic virus, potato mosaic virus. The economic importance of emerging viral diseases will be discussed.

Credit Hours - 3

In this course students will study the science of spores, pollen grains and fossil plant remains. There will be emphasis on the development, structure, viability and methods of study of spores and pollen. There will be practical microscopy study of spore and pollen structures. An aspect of the course will discuss the applications of spores, pollen grains and fossils in oil and gas exploration, health, and agriculture.

Credit Hours - 3

This course will present and synthesize ideas and concepts central to tropical wetland ecology. It covers geomorphology, hydrology, geochemistry, limnology, human uses and wetland management. The course also covers topics such as principles of wetland ecology and dynamics. It will emphasize aspects of wetland structure and function of riverine, mangrove and coastal wetland systems. The interrelationships of the climatic, soil and vegetation types will be explored. Human impacts on the tropical environment will be examined.

Credit Hours - 3

This course will focus on how plants are affected by their interaction with their physical, chemical and biotic environment. It will also examine how plants detect changes in their environment and how they cope with these changes. The course will emphasise topics such as growth, developmental and environmental physiology, plant responses to abiotic stress including impact of water deficit and salinity on transport across plant membranes and dynamics of growth. There will be a detailed coverage of flowering and fruiting, regulation of organ longevity, senescence and programmed cell death.

Credit Hours - 3

This course introduces students to the history of plant pathology, causes of plant diseases, phenomenon of infection, disease triangle and tetrahedron. The course will also train students in disease forecasting and progress curves. Students will be taught the different forms of plant pathogens and the mechanism of host resistance to infection. Emphasis will be on bacterial, fungal, nematode and viral diseases of some selected economic crops and their control methods. The course will provide students with the opportunity to study quarantine regulations; economic implications of pre- and post-harvest pathology and Integrated Pest Management strategies.

Credit Hours - 3

The course explores the various aspects of plant reproductive biology such as floral diversity and sex of plants, sexual and asexual reproduction, and agents and mechanisms of pollination. The course will examine the different types of breeding systems found in flowering plants and their impacts on species diversity, systematics and conservation. In order to understand the mechanism of gene flow between different species, the course will examine the processes of hybridization, introgression and polyploidy in flowering plants. The course will continue with dispersal of seeds and fruits in flowering plants and the ecological and physiological factors that influence the dispersal.

Credit Hours - 6

Students will carry out a supervised research project and will be guided through the research process: selecting a research topic, identifying the problem to be investigated, determining the objectives of the study, reviewing literature on the topic, collecting field and/or experimental data, analysing and interpreting data, and reporting the research findings scientifically. Students would be expected to submit three soft-bound copies of the dissertation with a light green cover for assessment. 

Credit Hours - 3

This course deals with the structure and life of microorganisms within different water bodies (springs, rivers, lakes and seas) and their role in the cycling of elements in water and sediments. The course also explores the various factors that influence aquatic microorganisms and microbial associations in an aquatic environment. Students will gain an understanding of the relationship between micro-organisms and aquatic plants and animals, the behaviour of terrestrial forms in aquatic environments, and the economic significance of aquatic microorganisms. The causes of aquatic pollution and the management approaches will also be discussed.

Credit Hours - 3

This course deals with life in the marine environment with emphasis on marine flora, their distribution, ecology and adaptations. The course will also cover marine phytoplankton biology, taxonomy and ecology, including temporal and spatial changes in relation to physico-chemical and biological factors.

Credit Hours - 3

The course provides quantitative description of plant growth, phyllotaxy and leaf development. It will expose students to experimental observation of growth and development in some selected plants. Emphasis will be placed on development and differentiation of the cell wall, vascular system and reproductive structures of seed plants, as well as the systematic anatomy of useful plant products such as fibres, seeds, latex, and osmophores.

Credit Hours - 3

This course provides an opportunity for students to fully understand the relationship in ecosystem conservation and sustainable management of watersheds or river basins. A holistic overview of watershed or river basin problems, as well as prospects and provisions for sustainable watershed management, will be given through lectures, seminars, field trips and article reviews.

Credit Hours - 3

This course will equip students with the requisite skills for identifying common plant taxa (families, genera and species) in Ghana and the rest of West Africa. Emphasis will be on taxonomy, morphology, anatomy, ecology and evolutionary relationships within and among the plant groups. Plant collections and storage techniques as well as digitization and imaging of herbarium specimens will be covered.

Credit Hours - 3

This course is designed to deepen students’ knowledge and understanding of the concepts in population and biometrical genetics. The course will discuss concepts of evolutionary factors in relation with the genetic structure of populations. The course will also demonstrate how the phenotypic covariance between related individuals provides information on the relative importance of genetic and environmental factors in influencing quantitative traits. Emphasis will be placed on the applications of population and biometrical genetics in animal and plant breeding.

Credit Hours - 3

This course introduces students to the scope of environmental microbiology and the role of microorganisms in the environment. It examines microbial contributions to biogeochemical cycling of major elements and highlights the significance of microbial interactions, including chemical warfare among microbial populations. Students will explore the applications of microorganisms in bioremediation, particularly in the petroleum and mining industries. The course also covers the activity of luminescent bacteria, the role of bacteria and fungi in bio-deterioration, and their contributions to decomposition and overall ecosystem functioning. 

Credit Hours - 2

This course explores the fundamental philosophical and ethical considerations in the application of scientific and medical discoveries in relation to humans. It covers the national biosafety framework and administrative guidelines, and regulations governing the movement and commercial release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and other regulated materials. Students will gain an in-depth understanding of GMOs, the status of existing biosafety programs, and best practices for the safe use of living modified organisms. The course also introduces key principles of public participation, information sharing, and access to justice in biosafety decision-making. Relevant legislation and legal instruments related to biosafety, as well as the ethical dimensions of scientific advancements will be discussed.

Credit Hours - 3

The course aims at broadening students’ understanding of the application of quantitative methods in biological research. The concept of the role of quantitative methods as a tool in biological research will be emphasized. The course will also involve hands-on training in qualitative and quantitative field and laboratory data documentation and management. Biological applications of the principles and elements of selected topics in mathematics and statistics will be treated. 

Credit Hours - 3

This course explores some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges and highlights the role of various institutions and legal frameworks in protecting and managing the environment. Topics to be treated include the essential principles of environmental governance, sources and effects of environmental pollution, measures for mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change, principles of environmental impact assessment and Ghana’s Environmental Policy.

Credit Hours - 3

This course will focus on the quantitative approaches to vegetation classification and analysis. Topics to be covered include field survey techniques (collection of samples for the herbarium, field notes, photography); sampling methods; accuracy and significance tests; species diversity indices; spatial arrangement of organisms; association analysis; ordination and other classificatory analyses. Interpretation of taxonomic and ecological data by multivariate methods will also be treated

Credit Hours - 3

This course describes and gives an insight into the building blocks of plant hormones that regulate the speed of growth of individual plant parts and integrate them into the form that we recognise as plants. The course will highlight methods of plant hormone analysis which will include the principles of extraction, separation methods (based on factors such as polarity, ionic nature, size and shape of molecule) as well as isolation, identification and quantification methods. Students will also be introduced to the various pathways (e.g., shikimate pathway) leading to the production of auxins and aromatic secondary metabolites. Methods for determining the sequence of amino acids in proteins will be discussed.

Credit Hours - 3

This course offers detailed knowledge of contemporary issues in the sustainable use of tropical plant diversity. The course discusses the components of important tropical ecosystems that provide plant genetic resources for industry, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and ecotourism. Important protocols and policies related to bioprospecting and international trade, such as the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS), the Biosafety Protocol, and the World Trade Organization (WTO) provisions for the protection of biodiversity will be covered.

Credit Hours - 3

This course is designed to broaden students’ knowledge of plant taxonomy. The course will discuss taxonomic characters with emphasis on their sources and uses.  Students will be treated to theoretical and practical chemotaxonomy. Modern methods in assessing relationships in plant groups and numerical taxonomy and cladistics will be discussed. 

Credit Hours - 1

Language for Scientists II is designed to help students to acquire translation skills to be able to translate scientific French materials into English. Students will therefore be: (i) taken through relevant scientific terms in French and (ii) given a number of French scientific materials for translation into English with the use of dictionaries and other teaching and learning tools.

Credit Hours - 2

This course is designed to treat the economic importance of plants and their contribution to industrial development. The course therefore provides an opportunity to students to study economically important plants used for food and beverages, fibre and textiles, medicines, timber and biofuel. In this course there will be a shift from the formal botany of the plants to their production and socio-economic aspects.

Credit Hours - 3

The course focuses on the basic metabolic processes, i.e., photosynthesis and respiration, at the cell level. Molecular and ultra-structures of organelles and other cellular structures such as the plant cell wall, mitochondria, chloroplast and vacuoles that allow efficiency of these metabolic processes would be highlighted. The molecular building blocks, polymerization and kinetics of polymerization of some selected biomolecules to form cell ultra-structures would be covered.

Credit Hours - 1

The course is designed to enable students to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of evolutionary biology. The course will emphasize discussions on the basic evolutionary concepts such as natural selection, the genetics of the evolutionary process, the genetics of populations, the origin of life on earth, the mechanisms of speciation, the impact of geologic forces on evolution, and human evolution. 

Credit Hours - 2

This course will provide a comprehensive overview of soils as unique habitats for microorganisms. Students will be introduced to the following topics: influence of physicochemical properties of soils on microbial activities. They will be taught methods of studying soil microbial population. Students will be exposed to the interrelationships between soil organisms and plant-microbe interactions especially the rhizosphere, mycorrhizae and nitrogen fixation organisms and their ecological and economic importance. Students will be taken through the significance of microorganisms in the transformation of soil carbon, nitrogen, sulphur and phosphorus, use of soil microbial activities as indicators of soil environmental quality and health.

Credit Hours - 3

This course deals with basic virology concepts, structure and composition of plant and animal viruses and viroids. Emphasis will be on the classification, nomenclature, cultivation, isolation and assay of viruses and bacteriophage. Students will be taken through the following: viral replication, viral genetics and evolution, pathogenesis, virus-induced changes in cells, infection and spread of viruses in plants and body of animals and humans. Subsequently, students will be taken through laboratory diagnosis of viral diseases. They will be introduced to the principles of epidemiology of viral infections, surveillance, control and eradication of viral diseases, selected viruses of plants, animals and man.

Credit Hours - 3

This course introduces students to the principles of microbial ecology, focusing on the interactions between microorganisms and their environments at both micro and macro scales. It examines key taxonomic groups, including bacteria, fungi, algae, protozoa, nematodes, and other eukaryotic organisms found in soil. It also discusses biochemical and biogeochemical cycles (e.g., mineralization of organic phosphates, the carbon cycle, and the nitrogen cycle). Students will gain an understanding of the relationship between producers, consumers, and decomposers, and microbial competition within ecosystems. The course also explores microbial dispersal mechanisms, the use of microorganisms as biological control agents in macro-ecosystems, microbial growth on oil and its role in bioremediation, as well as microbial interactions with plants and animals.

Credit Hours - 3

The course explores the theoretical basis of plant biotechnology. It provides general training in plant-cell and tissue culture and development, with particular focus on principles and practices of micropropagation, production of virus-free plants through meristem tip culture, germplasm conservation and storage, and methods such as Agrobacterium tumefaciens and biolistics in plant genetic engineering. Hands-on training is available to students interested in careers in plant biotechnology.

Credit Hours - 2

The course focuses on the biotic and abiotic components of the freshwater environment. Primary production, population dynamics correlated with physico-chemical aspects of the freshwater environment will be treated in detail.  The economic importance of aquatic macrophytes, toxin-producing micro-algae in freshwaters, and invasive aquatic species such as aquatic weeds will be discussed

Credit Hours - 3

The course covers concepts, principles and approaches to the study of environmental biology. The structural and functional components of ecosystems (natural and man-made, terrestrial and aquatic) will be discussed. Topical environmental issues such as global warming, habitat destruction, pollution, biodiversity loss and species extinction, as well as food and energy resources will be explored. 

Credit Hours - 3

This course explores the physiological functions of plants, highlighting how they integrate biophysical principles with specialized anatomical structures to adapt successfully to their environment. Key topics include plant water relations, water absorption, transpiration, and stomatal physiology, alongside an overview of diffusive and convective transport in plant systems. The mechanisms of xylem and phloem transport will be examined in detail. Additionally, the course will cover phytohormones, dormancy, germination, growth, flowering, and fruiting, with particular emphasis on the genetics and molecular analysis of flower development.

Credit Hours - 3

This course is designed to give students an understanding of the basic characteristics and ecology of fungi. It will enable the students to differentiate between sexual and asexual reproduction using these diagnostic characters to classify them. Knowledge of fungal taxonomy will enable students to diagnose causative agents of plant diseases. The economic importance of these fungi in agriculture, health, medicine and industry will be emphasized. In this course, the classification of the current ‘Dictionary of Fungi’ will be used to describe the lower fungi, i.e., Kingdom Protista (Phyla: Dictyosteliomycota, Myxomycota, Acrasiomycota, Plasmodiophoromycota) and Kingdom Stramenopila (Phyla: Oomycota and Labyrinthulomycota, Hyphochytridiomycota). The higher fungi to be treated include members of the Phyla Chytridiomycota, Zygomycota, Ascomycota and Basidiomycota.

Credit Hours - 3

The main objective of this course is to enable students to understand microbial metabolism: biosynthesis, polymerization, assembly of biopolymers, formation and characteristics of bacterial endospores and the importance of endospores. Students are expected to know the relationship between bacterial and fungal toxins and human health as well as commercial exploitation of microbial growth products (such enzymes, organic acids, and antibiotics). The students will be taken through fungal nutrition and types of dormancy of fungal spores; the physiology of spore germination and germination patterns would be discussed. Topical issues regarding the use of fungi as food, in agriculture and medical biotechnology would be discussed.

Credit Hours - 2

This course will focus on the unique characteristics of the tropical environment and its impacts on plant and animal life. The topics to be dealt with include the climate and its causes, geology, drainage and soils, vegetation types and their distribution. The interrelationships of the climatic, soil and vegetation types will be explored. Human impacts on the tropical environment will be examined.

Credit Hours - 3

This course aims at the study of the principles of plant and animal genetics. Students will study chromosome morphology and the behaviour of chromosomes during cell division. Chromosomal abnormalities will be treated in this course. Extra-chromosomal inheritance will also be treated. Population and biometrical genetics and their applications in breeding will be discussed. Students will also study some aspects of molecular genetics. The course will involve laboratory practical sessions.

Credit Hours - 2

The course provides students with an understanding of the principles and methods of plant systematics. This course will also introduce students to the habits, life cycles, economic uses, interrelationships, and classification of both native and introduced plants, and will provide practice in identifying species by means of keys, manuals, flora and any other means available.

Credit Hours - 3

This course aims at the theoretical and practical light microscope study of the anatomy of the vegetative parts of seed plants. The course will explore the economic importance of some plant tissues and the use of some plant anatomical features in taxonomy and phylogeny studies. Students will also study the ecological anatomy of seed plants, with specific emphasis on the internal and external adaptive anatomical features of hydrophytes, xerophytes, mesophytes and halophytes

Credit Hours - 1

This course is the practical component of PEBO 301. The course will involve the observation of the morphology of laboratory specimens from the various groups of algae.  Students will be guided to make accurate drawings of these specimens. Students will also observe under the microscope the internal structures of these specimens and will be given training in biological drawing techniques.

Credit Hours - 2

This course explores the systematics of the major algal groups, occurring in Ghana and the rest of West Africa. The structure and modes of reproduction of the major phyla will be treated. The economic importance of algae will be discussed in terms of current research; emphasising their utilization in medicine, food, soil conditioning, and bio-fuel production. PBIO 313 Phycology Practical must be taken with this course.

Credit Hours - 1

Most scientific materials are written in French. These materials are sometimes vital for the research and academic needs of the science student. These materials would have to be translated into French for the benefit of students from Anglophone background who have little or no knowledge in French. This course is therefore designed to equip the science student with a working knowledge of French through the mastery of French grammar and construction. 

Credit Hours - 2

This course is designed to introduce students to various general methods used to study microorganisms. Students will be taken through the theory of safe handling of microorganisms and laboratory materials, microscopy (including specimen preparation and staining), cultivation of microorganisms, microbial isolation, enumeration, characterization and identification; pure culture preparation, preservation of pure cultures. Students will also learn about the use of bacteria and fungi in agricultural, environmental, food, industrial and medical biotechnology.

Credit Hours - 3

The course highlights the importance of plants in human civilization. The course explores the major role played by plants in the origin and development of human civilization and wellbeing.  Students will examine how different communities, societies, and cultures have exploited plants for curative and other purposes; how plant-derived drugs have resulted in some of the fiercest wars in human history which have led to disruption of both modern and ancient civilizations.

Credit Hours - 1

This course aims at a practical laboratory study of PEBO 204: Plant Morphology and Anatomy.  The course will give students practical skills in microscopy and staining techniques in the study of the following plant tissues: parenchyma, collenchyma and sclerenchyma. Students will also observe macerated plant tissues under the microscope to identify cell wall thickening in the primary xylem. Practical study of the external morphology of the angiosperm will also be treated.

Credit Hours - 2

This course is designed to examine the relationship between the structure and functions of the angiosperm plant body at different levels of organization. The structure and functions of the different types of cells, tissue and organs, as well as the external morphology of the angiosperm will also be treated. 

Credit Hours - 2

The course is designed to train students in the use of biometry as a tool for biological research. Areas covered in the course include elementary binomial theorem and its application in the study of probability, introduction to linear, logarithmic and exponential functions, techniques in data collection and data management, chi square test of significance, t-test, normal distribution, elementary analysis of variance, correlation and regression

Credit Hours - 2

This course will enable students to understand the significance of microbiology as a science and the developmental stages of microbiology as a scientific discipline. It will provide a historical perspective on the spontaneous generation theory, the germ theory, development of antibiotics and immunization. Students will be taken through the scope and relevance of microbiology in life. They will be taken through the fundamentals of classification and types of microorganisms – Prokaryotes, Eukaryotes and Archaebacteria. The morphology, structure, taxonomy, nutrition and metabolism, genetics, immunology, reproduction and growth of the major groups of microorganisms – bacteria, fungi, viruses, algae, nematodes, viroids, mollicutes, and protozoa – will be explored.

Credit Hours - 1

This course is the practical aspect of PEBO 211: Lower Plants. The course will involve the observation of the morphology of laboratory specimens of bryophytes and pteridophytes.  Students will be guided to make accurate drawings of these specimens and will also observe under the microscope the internal structures of these specimens. Students will also be given training in biological drawing techniques. 

Credit Hours - 2

The course is designed to enable students explore the diversity of seedless vascular plants and their adaptations to the terrestrial habitat. It will discuss the morphology, internal structure and life cycles of bryophytes and pteridophytes. It will also review the economic and ecological relevance of these lower vascular plants. The evolutionary trend in the pteridophytes will also be discussed

Credit Hours - 1

This course is the practical aspect of PEBO 207: Growth and Developmental Biology of Higher Plants. Students will through small field and laboratory group projects study the effect of such external factors as light, drought, salinity, etc., on plant growth and development.  Students will also be taken through practical laboratory study of the effect of growth hormones on plant growth and development. 

Credit Hours - 2

Growth and Developmental Biology of Higher Plants

Credit Hours - 2

This course introduces the diversity of plants and their allies, covering algae, fungi, bryophytes, pteridophytes, gymnosperms, and angiosperms. It focuses on their key characteristics, classification, and evolutionary relationships. Additionally, the course highlights the economic significance of plant groups and their applications in agriculture, biotechnology, conservation, food production, pharmaceuticals, and horticulture, laying the foundation for further studies. The course is a pre-requisite for PEBO 104.

Credit Hours - 1

This course serves as the practical component of PEBO 102: Plant Diversity, Morphology, and Function. Students will analyse the morphological characteristics of live and herbarium specimens from various plant groups discussed in the theory section. Laboratory work will include the use of microscopes and other tools to enhance understanding of plant structure and their function.

Credit Hours - 2

This course introduces the basic principles and concepts of ecology at the individual, population, community and ecosystem levels of organization. It will examine topics such as plant and animal adaptations to the environment, the role of environmental factors in the distribution and abundance of plants, structure of ecological communities, species interactions and population growth dynamics.

Credit Hours - 1

The course is designed to cover the practical component of PEBO 201: Introduction to Plant Ecology. Students will be trained to acquire basic skills in ecological data collection and interpretation. Students will also be introduced to various ecological equipment and will be given hands-on training in how to use them. This practical must be taken with PEBO 201.

Credit Hours - 3

This course is designed to study the microscopic structure and organization of the prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. The structural differences between these two types of cell will be studied. Emphasis will be placed on the relationship between cell structure and function. The course will also discuss some aspects of transmission genetics and genes in population. The course also provides understanding of the sources and consequences of genetic variation in natural populations.