Text Books: 
<br>Biology and Evolution of Ferns and Lycophytes by Tom A. Ranker, Christopher H. 
<br>Haufler, Cambridge University Press (2008)
<br>Current Advances in Fern Research by Helena Fern&#225;ndez, Springerli<x>nk (2018). 
<br>Selected recent papers from high profile journals such as Science, Nature, 
<br>PNAS, New Phytologists, MPE, GBE, American Journal of Botany, American Fern 
<br>Journal etc.
<br>
<br>Teaching Method: 
<br>All students are required to read all assigned chapters and papers and then 
<br>participate in classroom discussion.
<br>
<br>
<br>Syllabus:
<br>Topics
<br>DEVELOPMENT AND MORPHOGENESIS
<br>Alternation of generations
<br>Meristem organization and organ diversity
<br>GENETICS AND REPRODUCTION
<br>Antheridiogens
<br>Evolution of the nuclear genome
<br>ECOLOGY
<br>Phenology and habitat specificity of tropical ferns
<br>Gametophyte ecology
<br>SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
<br>Species and speciation
<br>Diversity, biogeography, and floristics
<br>Fern phylogeny
<br>Fern classification
<br>CONSERVATION
<br>Methods for ex situ conservation
<br>In vitro cultures and collections
<br>Ex situ cryostorage of gametophytes
<br>Ex situ cryostorage of sporophytes
<br>In vitro collecting for ex situ conservation
<br>Current status and future perspectives
<br>
<br>Schedule:
<br>Week 1~4: Development and Morphogenesis
<br>Week 5~6: Genetics and Reproduction
<br>Week 7~10: Ecology
<br>Week 11~13: Systematics and Evolutionary Biology
<br>Week 14~18: Conservation
<br>
<br>Evaluation:
<br>Class performance: 20%. Assigned presentation: 20%. Attendance: 60%.