Department of Botany, University of Yangon

What is Botany? ************* Botany is the scientific study of plants. "Plants," to most people, means a wide range of living organisms from the smallest bacteria to the largest living things - the giant sequoia trees. By this definition plants include: algae, fungi, lichens, mosses, ferns, conifers and flowering plants. Today scientists believe bacteria, algae and fungi are in their own distin ct kingdoms, but most general botany courses, and most Botany Departments at colleges and universities, still teach about these groups. Because the field is so broad, there are many kinds of plant biologists and many different opportunities available. Botanists interested in ecology study interactions of plants with other organisms and the environment. Other field botanists search to find new species or do experiments to discover how plants grow under different conditions. Some botanists study the structure of plants. They may work in the field, concentrating on the pattern

Botany and Society *************** The explosive growth of human populationis changing the earth dramatically. Only by understanding how human activities affect our environment can we predict global climatic changes. Scientific studies of these changes and their effect on natural ecosystems and crop production are crucial to the future of our society. Other environmental issues, such as pollutio n, also interest botanists. Many plant species are especially sensitive to certain pollutants. Botanists study the effects of different types of pollution on plants. They use their results to advise lawmakers on legislation for environmental protection and on ways to save priceless natural areas. By using plant tissue culture, botanists can grow entire plants from single cells. This has exciting potential in biotechnology, horticulture, forestry, and plant pathology. Plants are chemical factories- Many of the chemicals that they produce are useful to humans. Besides food, plants

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- to make a development center of excellence in plant science at undergraduate level to granduate level, - to discover and c onvey scienticfic knowledge about the plants and - to promote awareness and appreciation of the diverse and various fields of Botanical and Biological sciences.

Academic Information The Department of Botany carries out the academic programme in order to enhance the proper philosophy ... of matriculation examination and allow to pursue the specialization in Botany. The experiences of teaching and research provided by the staffs of Botany Department will lead to the actual assessment on plants which are indispensible for existing of other living things on earth.

The Botany Department of the University of Yangon sets its objectives to conduct academic and research programmes concern ... ing plant sciences. These objectives are - development of efficient and effective human resources, - improvement of post graduate or doctoral programmes, - improvement of botanical sciences programmes, - high standard of learning and high quality research. The Department has 80 staff members and offers courses leading to Bachelor degree, Master of Science, Master of Research and Doctor of Philosophy in Botany and Microbiology. Candidates for the Bachelors (undergraduate) and Master of Science in Botany and Microbiology degree study the following courses: Evolutionary survey of Plant Kingdom, Environmental science, Principles of Taxonomy, Horticulture, medicinal plants, Cell biology, morphogenesis, microbiology, Plant embryology, Molecular genetics, evolution and biostatistics, Plant physiology, Biochemistry, Biodiversi