The Plant Molecular Biology Specialization equips students with a broad understanding of analysis and generation of genetic variation and gene expression variation from single gene to the whole genome levels. Students gain the professional ability to discover and predict the effects of genes and genetic variation at the biochemical, physiological, cellular and organismal levels.
Learning Outcomes: Plant Molecular Biology Specialization
Students completing a degree specialization in Plant Molecular Biology will have the knowledge, skill set and professional capability to:
- Apply the principles of classical and molecular genetics towards improvement of food and feed using model and crop plant systems
- Understand the elucidation the function of genes at the molecular level and modification of function using forward and reverse genetics
- Understand classical and state of the art technologies for analyzing genetic, gene expression and biochemical variation
- Be familiar with omics technologies and database mining used for analyzing plant genomes, transcriptomes and proteomes and technologies for overlaying such datasets
- Understand the translation of molecular knowledge to physiological, cellular and organismal aspects of plant growth and development
Foundational or Core Courses
Students seeking this specialization take Plant Molecular Biology and select classes from core group as guided by the major advisor, student committee, and IDP.
1Courses under development. 2Courses under major review/revision
Plant Molecular Biology Core
- AGRO 810: Plant Molecular Biology (3cr) required
M.S. select minimum 6 cr; Ph.D. select minimum 12 cr from core below.
- AGRO/BIOC 834: Plant Biochemistry (3cr)
- AGRO 815: Introduction to Plant Breeding and Cultivar Development1 (3cr)
- AGRO 829: Plant Biotechnology Applications (3cr)
- Plant Physiology 1
- BIOS 878: Plant Anatomy (3cr)
- AGRO 811: Crop Genetic Engineering (2cr)
- AGRO 821: Learning Biotechnology (3cr)
- AGRO 919: Advanced Crop Genetics and Genomics (3cr)
- ASCI 832: Genome analysis (3cr)
- AGRO 833: Molecular Plant Breeding (3cr)
Writing, Speaking and Teaching
- AGRO 803: Scientific Writing and Communication (3cr) (recommended)
- CBIO 844: Professional Development (1cr)
- Teaching Assistant (encouraged)
- AGRO 899, 999: Masters, Ph.D. Thesis
- Departmental seminar (recommended)
- AGRO 991: Seminar Presentation and Evaluation (required)
- AGRO 992: General Seminar (required)
Statistics, Data Management & Analysis, Programming
M.S. (min, 3 cr) and Ph.D. (min, 6 cr)
- STAT 801: Statistical Methods in Research (4cr)
- STAT 802: Design and Analysis of Research Studies (4cr)
- AGRO 820: Bioinformatics Applications in Agriculture (3cr)
- ECEN 850: Bioinformatics (3cr)
- STAT 868: An Introduction to R Programming (online) (1cr)
- Or any other graduate level course(s) in Statistics, Data Management & Analysis, or Programming as deemed appropriate by the Supervisory Committee and the Student and identified as such in the Student’s IDP.
Electives
Students then customize career track by selecting Elective classes guided by IDP, major advisor and committee.
1Courses under development. 2Courses under major review/revision
- BIOS 807: Biology of Cells and Organelles
- AGRO 809A: Breeding for Disease Resistance (4cr)
- AGRO 809B: Transgenic Strategies for Disease Resistance (1cr)
- AGRO 812: Crop and Weed Genetics (2cr)
- AGRO 816: Hybrid Breeding: Theory, Design and Decisions (3cr)
- BIOS 818: Advanced Genetics
- BIOS/VBMS 820: Molecular Genetics
- BIOS 826: Systems Biology
- AGRO 896: Molecular Plant Breeding (3cr)
- AGRO 896: Applied Field Research: Design, Data Management, Analysis and Reporting (2cr) 1
- NRES 898: Grad Seminar in R and Data Analysis (3cr)
- AGRO 931: Population Genetics (3cr)
- AGRO 932: Biometrical Genetics and Plant Breeding (3cr)
- BIOC 932: Proteins
- BIOC 933: Enzymes
- BIOC 934: Genome Dynamics and Gene Expression
- BIOS 945: RNA Biology
Core Course guidelines may be waived with documentation of previously successfully completing equivalent courses, workshops, or short courses and/or demonstration of equivalent proficiencies pertaining to the student’s educational and career goals and will be identified as such in the IDP as deemed appropriate by the Student’s Supervisory Committee.