3 ECTS credits
90 h study time
Offer 1 with catalog number 1015373CNR for all students in the 2nd semester
at
a (C) Bachelor - specialised level.
- Semester
- 2nd semester
- Enrollment based on exam contract
- Impossible
- Grading method
- Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
- Can retake in second session
- Yes
- Enrollment Requirements
- Students bachelor Bio-engineering Sciences must have followed 'General and Molecular Genetics including Bio-Ethics Seminars', before they can enroll for 'Plant Molecular Genetics and Plant Biotechnology'.
'Plant Molecular Genetics and Plant Biotechnology' means also that students bachelor Bio-engineering Sciences simultaneously follow 'Plants and Fungi' or have successfully passed 'Plants and Fungi'.
Students bachelor Biology must have followed 'Genetics', before they can enroll for 'Plant Molecular Genetics and Plant Biotechnology'.
'Plant Molecular Genetics and Plant Biotechnology' means also that students bachelor Biology simultaneously follow 'Plants and Fungi' or have successfully passed 'Plants and Fungi'.
'Plant Molecular Genetics and Plant Biotechnology' means that students in the preparatory programme bachelor Biology simultaneously follow 'Genetics' or have successfully passed 'Genetics'.
- Taught in
- English
- Faculty
- Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences
- Department
- Bio-Engineering Sciences
- Educational team
- Bram Vancompernolle
Geert Angenon
(course titular)
- Activities and contact hours
- 26 contact hours Lecture
13 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
- Course Content
If requested by the students, the first 6h of the course will consist of course specific English language support.
× Plant genome analysis: sequencing and annotation of genomes, genome evolution, gene duplication, repetitive DNA, transposable elements, dynamics of chloroplast, mitochondrial and nuclear genome
× Functional genomics and transcriptomics
× Transformation of plants:
Introduction of DNA in plant cells: Agrobacterium mediated transformation; direct gene transfer
Generating transgenic plants and the use of selectable markers; regeneration; meristem transformation, in planta transformation, microspore transformation;
transient expression systems
Legislation on GMOs
× Silencing and epigenetic mechanisms in plants and applications for research and molecular breeding: paramutation, transcriptional gene silencing, RNA silencing, siRNA and microRNA pathways and their biological relevance, co-suppression, VIGS
× Applications of plant biotechnology:
Quality traits (nutritional quality improvement: proteins, starch, lipids, vitamins, etc.; ripening processes; ..)
Agronomic traits (resistance to diseases, pests and abiotic stress, herbicide resistance, etc.)
Practicals: Transient gene expression experiment and analysis of transgenic plants
- Course material
- Digital course material (Required) : Course notes, schemes and figures as well as some relevant review and research papers are provided.
Handbook (Recommended) : Plant Biology, Alison Smith, George Coupland, Liam Dolan, Nicholas Harberd, Jonathan Jones, Cathie Martin, Robert S, Garland Science Textbooks, 9780815340256, 2009
Handbook (Recommended) : Principles of gene manipulation and genomics, Primrose and Twyman, 7th ed., Blackwell Publishing, 9781405135443, 2006
- Additional info
Particpation in the practicals is obligatory
- Learning Outcomes
-
Algemene competenties
Students will have obtained an overview of plant molecular genetic research methods and technologies and understand the potential of these techniques to investigate how plants function and how crops can be improved (“molecular breeding”). The course is also meant as a basis for those who want specialize in molecular (plant) biotechnology in the master program.
- Grading
-
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 85% of the final mark.
Practical Exam determines 15% of the final mark.
Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
- oral examination
with a relative weight of 100
which comprises 85% of the final mark.
Note: Oral examination with written preparation. Every student is asked to answer two questions on the main subjects of the course. The examination aims to assess insight and understanding the student has gained and the ability of the student to apply knowledge on the techniques discussed during the course. Knowledge of details is not required.
Within the Practical Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
- WPO report
with a relative weight of 100
which comprises 15% of the final mark.
Note: The students make a a report with a short introduction on the background, the methods used, the results obtained and a conclusion.
- Additional info regarding evaluation
Partial marks for ‘Practical exam’, if the student obtains at least half of the score for this part, are transferred to the second session and to the next academic year.
Students may not relinquish partial marks.
- Allowed unsatisfactory mark
- The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.
Academic context
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Biology: Default track (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Bioengineering Sciences: Default track (only offered in Dutch)
Bridging Programme Master of Science in Biology: Molecular&Cellular LifeScience (only offered in Dutch)