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.