BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 457
PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY (01-1)
 

* Grad Students - NO LAB (see bottom)

PROFESSOR:  Dr. A.R. Kermode

Office: SSB 6155
Lab: SSB 6121
Ph. 291-3982
 

Lecture and Laboratory:

The material covered in this lecture/laboratory course will provide the student with a thorough understanding of the principles and practice of plant molecular biology. The techniques and procedures for plant genetic transformation, beginning with tissue culture, followed by foreign gene introduction, and regeneration and analysis of transformants, will be reviewed. Several examples of agronomic traits which have been successfully engineered in plants will be used to illustrate how genes are cloned, constructs made, genes introduced, and the transformants evaluated for gene expression.

Studies of transcription and promoter function in transgenic plants will be covered as well as manipulating the targeting of gene products to different organelles, particularly in respect of maximizing levels of gene expression and protein stability in foreign plant hosts.

The various applications of plant genetic engineering will be covered, including strategies to enhance protein nutritional qualities of seed proteins and using plants as factories for the production of pharmaceuticals ("molecular pharming"). Genetic engineering to enhance tolerance to environmental stress, insects and diseases, will be reviewed using appropriate examples. The latest techniques in silencing gene expression will also be discussed, including antisense RNA and ribozymes.

The laboratory component of the course will be designed specifically to introduce students to the latest technologies for transferring foreign genes into heterologous plant hosts. The student will learn techniques in plant tissue culture and protoplast isolation and will have the opportunity to analyze genetic transformants and monitor gene expression. Various aspects of the regulation of gene expression in the transformed plants generated by students will also be examined, including responsiveness to environmental factors as well as the specificity of expression in different tissues/organs of the plant.


Prerequisite/Corequisite:

BISC 321 or permission of the Department (BICH 221/222 is sufficient)


Required Text:

None (Selected articles will be made available for reference use by students)


Grading:

The following grading scheme will be used for BISC 457:
Midterm exam: 35%
Final exam: 40%
Laboratory reports: 25%

Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology:  BISC 457/887 (01-1)
DR. A.R. KERMODE

Lecture:  MWF 9:30 - 10:20 (AQ 5006)
Lab:  F 1:30 - 17:20 (SSB 8133)



 
 
 
 

Date
Lecture Topic
     
Jan
5
 Introduction to Course
 
8
 Introduction to Plant Propagation and Tissue Culture
 
10
 Methods for Plant Transformation I. Biology of Agrobacterium
 
12
 Lecture for Lab
 
15
 Methods for Plant Transformation II. Agrobacterium - Mediated Plant Transformation
 
17
 Methods for Plant Transformation III. Sel. Markers, Vectors, Gene Constructs
 
19
 Lecture for Lab
 
22
 Methods for Plant Transformation IV. Reporter Genes
 
24
 Methods for Plant Transformation V. Promoters; Analysis of Transformants
 
26
 Lecture for Lab
 
29
 Methods for Plant Transformation VI. Physical DNA Delivery Systems
 
31
 Levels of Gene Regulation in Plants/Homeotic Genes
Feb
2
 Lecture for Lab
 
5
 Midterm
 
7
 Maximizing Levels of Gene Expression in Foreign Plant Hosts
 
9
 Lecture for Lab
 
12
 Genetic Engineering for Improved Protein Nutritional Qualities of Plant Proteins
 
14
 Manipulating Plant Cell Walls / Manipulating Plant Reproductive Sterility*
 
16
 Lecture for Lab
 
19
 Manipulation of Oil Composition and Content in Plants*
 
21
 Plant Expression Systems for Production of Pharmaceuticals I.
 
23
 Reading Break
 
26
 Plant Expression Systems for Production of Pharmaceuticals II.
 
28
 Plant Expression Systems for Production of Pharmaceuticals III.
Mar
2
 Lecture for Lab
 
5
 The Patent Process*
 
7
 Programmed Cell Death I.
 
9
 Lecture for Lab
 
12
 Programmed Cell Death II.
 
14
 Gene Therapy*
 
16
 Lecture for Lab
 
19
 "The Plant Gods"?
 
21
 Other Biotechnologies and Their Controversy
 
23
 Lecture for Lab / Final "wrap-up"
 
26
 Graduate Student Presentation: Responses of Plants to Abiotic Stresses and Manipulation
 
28
 Graduate Student Presentation: Genetic Engineering for Insect Resistance
 
30
 Graduate Student Presentation: Genetic Engineering for Viral Resistance
Apr
2
 Graduate Student Presentation: Methods for Silencing Gene Expression in Plants
 
4
 Graduate Student Presentation: Genetic Engineering for Fungal Resistance
 
6
 Graduate Student Presentation: Are Transgenic Plants Safe?

* Guest Lectures; scheduling subject to change

Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
BISC 887 Graduate Students






Topics for Term Paper and Presentation

Responses of Plants to Abiotic Stresses and manipulation
Genetic Engineering for Insect Resistance
Genetic Engineering for Viral Resistance
Methods for Silencing Gene Expression in Plants
Genetic Engineering for Fungal Resistance
Are Transgenic Plants Safe?   Format of Term Paper

Approximately 15-20 pages, double-spaced

The format should be fairly comprehensive review-type article; it should be fairly general and not rely heavily on just a specific plant species, unless appropriate

You will be marked on:

  1. Organization
  2. Content
  3. Extent of literature search and use of recent (99-01) research articles
  4. Style and originality
The topic of your term paper will be the basis of your oral presentation
 

Graduate Student Grading

The following grading scheme will be used for BISC 887:

Final exam - 20%
Essay - 40%
Presentation/lecture - 40%