Genetic Resources

Recommended Prerequisites

Knowledge in Genetics, Molecular Biology and Ecology, English.

Teaching Methods

The course will combine lectures, presentations and discussions of scientific articles, lab practicals, field excursions, and a project work at the individual level. Students will produce a project and do a short oral presentation on the topic of their project. Stakeholders and Policy makers and reserachers with expertise in specialized topics (e.g. from MUM or DGAV) will give guest lectures.

Learning Outcomes

The objectives include providing an overview of the importance of genetic resources and how natural and human-induced processes create and erode these; to discuss how the loss of genetic diversity can be predicted, characterized, measured and avoided; to discuss gene conservation as part of integrated biodiversity conservation; and to present and discuss sustainable strategies for the management and conservation of genetic resources.

Skills:

Recognize and use concepts and principles of Genetics, in the narrower scope of Resources, stimulating systemic thinking.

Analyze, synthesize and process information using appropriate laboratory and computer methodologies and techniques to characterize genetic resources.

Process, interpret and communicate current information on various topics related to Genetic Resources.

To be autonomous in terms of metacognition and self-learning, namely in terms of scientific literature research.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Evolution of diversity, population dynamics and corresponding genetic processes; ecological processes and adaptation; ecotypes; resistance and co-evolution between plants and associated pests; inbreeding, genetic drift, and erosion; domestication.

Characterisation of genetic resources for domestication, breeding and cultivation. Molecular Tools for the evaluation and characterisation of genetic resources.

Effect of land use, agriculture, forestry, breeding, and biotechnology on biodiversity and genetic resources; ex-situ, in-situ, dynamic, and static methods for conservation of genetic resources; management of gene banks and gene conservation reserves.

Genetic resources in relation to climate change. Increase of adaptive potential towards extreme climatic events; new pests and pathogens.

Diversity and Richness of Genetic Resources in Portugal and from the Central Region: wild plants and relatives of cultivated plants, landraces and old varieties, and fungi.

Head Lecturer(s)

António Manuel Santos Carriço Portugal

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Report of a seminar or field trip: 20.0%
Project: 30.0%
Exam: 50.0%

Bibliography

- Selected and current Research Articles form several reference journals in the area.

- Selected Review Articles on the scope of Genetic Resources.

- FAO Reports.

- EU Reports.

- Reports on Case Studies.

- Programmes for Conservation of Genetic Reports at the National Level (examples of several countries).

- Genetics. Analysis of Genes and Genomes (2012). 8th edition. Daniel L. Hartl & Maryellen Ruvolo. Jones and Bartlett Learning.

- Genetic Analysis. An integrated approach (2012). Mark F. Sanders & John L. Bowman. Pearson Education.

- Introduction to Genetic Analysis (2008). 9th Edition. A. Griffiths, S. Wessler, R. Lewontin & S. B. Carrol. W. H. Freeman and Company.

- Principles of Plant Genetics and Breeding (2012). George Acquaah. Second Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

- Plant Breeding. Principles and prospects (1994).  M.D. Hayard, N.O. Bosemark & I. Romagosa.  Chapman & Hall.

- Plants, Genes, and Agriculture (1994). M.J. Chrispeels, D.E. Sada &. Jones and Bartlett Publishers.