MBBT 42026

>< Type/Status : Compulsory
>< Course title : Plant Genetic Engineering
>< Objectives: At the completion of the course, the student will
(i) understand principles and strategies of genetic engineering, and
(ii) be able to apply this knowledge in designing and explaining experimental approaches to solve simple plant-biotechnological problems
>< Course content:

Nuclear and organelle genes of plants. Techniques used for identification of plant genes or gene clusters: molecular markers, cDNA synthesis. Screening of genomic libraries. Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated gene transfer into plants: Ti plasmid, T-DNA vectors and strategies used for transfer of foreign genes. Direct gene transfer into plants: tissue electroporation and other physical methods of transformation. Analysis of transgenic plants. Genetic markers, expression signals and expression vectors. Selectable markers and reporter genes. Antisense RNA technology and its application in plant genetic engineering. Selected examples for production of genetically engineered plants with improved agricultural and horticultural values.

>< Methodology: Lectures, tutorials and seminars.
>< Scheme of evaluation: End of course examination and seminars
>< Recommended reading:
01. Potrykus, I. and Spangenberg, G. (1995). Gene Transfer to Plants. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
02. Setlow, J. K. (2000). Genetic Engineering: Principles and Methods. Kluwer Academic.
03. Bob, B., Buchanan, B., Gruissem, W. and Jones, R. L. (2002). Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Plants. John Wiley and Sons.

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