Plant Biotecnology

Year
0
Academic year
2024-2025
Code
01000751
Subject Area
Área Científica do Menor
Language of Instruction
Portuguese
Mode of Delivery
Face-to-face
Duration
SEMESTRIAL
ECTS Credits
6.0
Type
Elective
Level
1st Cycle Studies

Recommended Prerequisites

General knowledge of genetics, plant physiology and molecular biology.

Teaching Methods

Theoretical and practical classes during the semester. During the two weeks the students will grouped (3 – 5) and will develop a practical work related with one particular subject of plant physiology. The results will be discussed with the professor and colleagues and, by the end of the course students will write a report about the experiments and will present and discuss their work.     

Learning Outcomes

Students will learn concept and methods used in the study of plant biotechnology. Applications of the studies of plant biotechnology on practical subjects. By the end of the course the students must have acquired skills and knowledge which will able them to understand the mechanisms of plant biotechnology and the ways how they can be studied.

1. Understanding capacity: to be able to understand concepts related with biotechnology and to relate them with practical applications in areas like agriculture and industry.

2. Ability to solve practical problems: to apply the concepts and methods learnt on this course to solve practical issues.

3. Communication: be able to analyse scientific information and to transmit it in a clear and concise way either in oral or written form.

4. Self learning: to be able and autonomous in the preparation and analysis of scientific experiments. Show the capacity to interpret scientific data.          

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Plant Biotechnology - Introduction

1.1. History of Plant Biotechnology

1.2. Emergence of agriculture

1.3. Classical methods of plant breeding

2. Totipotency

2.1. Differentiation and dedifferentiation

2.2. Plant hormones and totipotency

2.3. Asexual propagation

3. In vitro cultures

3.1. Culture media

3.2. Culture conditions

3.3. Methods of micropropagation

3.4. Cell suspensions and secondary metabolites

4. Haploid plants and androgenesis

4.1. Haploids and breeding

4.2. Haploid induction

4.3. Examples of haploid induction on the production of new cultivars

5. Protoplastos and somatic hybridization

5.1. Methods for protoplast isolation

5.2. Protoplast fusion

5.3. Production and selection of somatic hybrids

6. Genetically modified plants

6.1. Methods

6.2. New cultivars obtained through genetic transformation

6.3. Social, economic and environmental impacts of PGMs

6.4. Legislation     

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Mini Tests: 25.0%
Laboratory work or Field work: 25.0%
Exam: 50.0%

Bibliography

Canhoto, J. M., 2010. Biotecnologia Vegetal – da clonagem de plantas à transformação genética. Imprensa da Universidade de Coimbra.

Chawla, H. S., 2009. Introduction to Plant Biotechnology (3ª ed.). Science Publishers, Inc. Enfield.

Trigiano, R.N. & Gray, D.J., 2005. Plant Development and Biotechnology. CRC Press, Boca Raton