Instructor(s): Jeff Mower
Number of Credit Hours: 3
Cross-listings: BIOC 810, HORT 810
Prerequisites: PLAS 215 or BIOS 206; BIOC 831
Description: Molecular genetic basis of biological function in higher plants. Genome organization, gene structure and function, regulation of gene expression, recombinant DNA, and genetic engineering principles. Material taken primarily from current literature.
Learning Outcomes/Course Objectives
- Describe the basic techniques used in the study of molecular biology.
- Outline the methods for obtaining and analyzing recombinant DNA.
- Evaluate hypotheses relating to molecular biology by analyzing experimental data.
- Design appropriate molecular biological experiments to test a hypothesis and to propose alternate hypotheses.
- Distinguish the different levels at which gene expression may be controlled.
- Explain what the epigenome is and how it affects gene expression.
- Illustrate the structure of genes and explain important features and their functions.
- Explain the molecular basis for non-Mendelian inheritance.
- Propose experiments to determine the molecular basis for a mutant phenotype.
- Compare and contrast various methods of plant transformation.
- Describe the unique ways in which genetic engineering can effect a desired genetic change in plant species.
- Illustrate how genetic engineering can complement traditional methods of plant species improvement.