240029 Molecular Plant Breeding

Details
Department of Agricultural Sciences
Earliest Possible YearMSc. 1 year
DurationOne block
 
Credits15 (ECTS)
Course LevelMSc
 
ExaminationFinal Examination

written examination and oral examination


All aids allowed

Description of Examination: Exam will be oral with presentation of one case report followed by questions and discussion by censor and examinators with starting point in the case problematics.

Weight: Written reports: 50% Oral examination: 50%



13-point scale, internal examiner
 
Organisation of Teaching25 % for lectures and discussion classes, 75 % for practical activities and adviced PBL cases. Students work in groups
 
Block PlacementBlock 3
Week Structure: Outside schedule
 
Teaching LanguageEnglish
 
Optional PrerequisitesBioinformatik 1 og Plant Genomics and Molecular Breeding
 
Mandatory PrerequisitesGenetik 1 or similar
 
Areas of Competence the Course Will Address
Basic Science
Experience with major databases and literature to reveal the potential of molecular breeding within selected target areas. Understanding of major technologies and bioinformatics used in molecular breeding.

Applied Science
Understanding of the principles of molecular breeding and their use to solve major problems in plant production related to yield, quality and environmental friendliness. Experience with data collection and experimental setup of programs for crop improvement through exploitation of naturally existing and de novo induced genetic variation.

Ethics and values
Awareness of ethical issues related to modification of plants and their subsequent use for production
 
Course Objectives
Provide knowledge and experience in planning and performing molecular breeding projects through integration of theory and laboratory technologies into plant breeding. Focus is on understanding the potentials of molecular approaches to change important qualitatively and quantitatively inherited traits within cultivated plants to improve yield, quality and environmental friendliness of production.
 
Course Contents
This course comprises the use of technologies and strategies for future modification of important cultured plants to meet the demands for environmentally sustainable production of food, feed and industrial raw material of high quality. Molecular breeding employs molecular genetic markers and genomics for allele-selection (SSR, SNP, MAS, proteomics) to explore natural variation and mutant and transgene technologies (TILLING, Eco-tilling, GMO) to expand the natural variation. Bioinformatics is important in general when designing strategies for plant improvement. Teaching will be research based with case projects in small student groups in major areas of research:

Plant genetic resources (mutants, landraces, wild relative, synteny etc)
Molecular breeding for disease resistance
Yield improvement through tolerance to abiotic stress (drought, salt, cold etc)
Quality improvement of food and feed (P, Fe, Zn, fibre and cell walls, allergi)
Modification for industrial purposes (starch, fibre etc)
 
Teaching And Learning Methods
A mixture of lectures for overview and practical laboratory cases for small student groups in ongoing research areas.
 
Course Litterature
unknown at present
 
Course Coordinator
Sven Bode Andersen, sba@life.ku.dk, Department of Agricultural Sciences/Plant and Soil Science, Phone: 35333444
 
Study Board
Study Committee NSN
 
Course Scope
lectures15
practicals250
preparation142
examination5

412