| Department of Plant Biology
60 % Department of Agricultural Sciences 40 % | |||||||||||||||||||
| Earliest Possible Year | MSc. 2 year | ||||||||||||||||||
| Duration | One block | ||||||||||||||||||
| Credits | 15 (ECTS) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Course Level | MSc To be followed just before initiation of the MSc project | ||||||||||||||||||
| Examination | Final Examination oral examination All aids allowed Description of Examination: Oral examination based on presentation and defence of the written project report and scientific literature relevant for the course. Weight: Written report: 50% Oral examination: 50% 13-point scale, external examiner | ||||||||||||||||||
| Requirement For Attending Exam | Completed project report | ||||||||||||||||||
| Organisation of Teaching | 80 % laboratory project work, 10 % scientific literature exercises, 10 % excursion abroad to outstanding biotech laboratories | ||||||||||||||||||
| Block Placement | Block 4 Week Structure: Outside schedule | ||||||||||||||||||
| Teaching Language | English | ||||||||||||||||||
| Optional Prerequisites | Molecular plant biochemistry and physiology Plant genomics and molecular breeding | ||||||||||||||||||
| Areas of Competence the Course Will Address | |||||||||||||||||||
| Basic Science: The student will be able to transfer theories and principles from published work to the problems under study. Applied Science: After fulfilment of the course the student has been acquainted with advanced modern methods in plant biotechnological research and molecular breeding. The student can apply principles to solve new questions posed by the research committee, industry and the society. Ethics and Values: The student will be able to evaluate critically the limitations and possibilities involved in finding new biotechnological solutions to current problems in agriculture and biomedicine. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Course Objectives | |||||||||||||||||||
| The aim of the course is to give the student a hands-on understanding for the possibilities in applied plant research and practical knowledge in solving important problems in plant biotechnology and molecular breeding. The course will also provide training in preparation and presentation of projects and results in an international form. The student will be trained in critical reading of original scientific literature in the field. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Course Contents | |||||||||||||||||||
| This thematical course forms a final synthesizing element of the M. Sc. program and is a preparation for M. Sc. projects. As such the course will comprise both theoretical and practical aspects. Plant biotechnology is used as a working method within a number of many scientific areas at KVL. The theme course is an interdisciplinary collaboration between Department of Plant Biology and Department of Agricultural Sciences. Teaching will take a starting point in ongoing research at these departments. The laboratory project directly approaches current problems in plant biotechnology. The students will work in groups in research laboratories under direct supervision of scientists that have experience in solving related problems. The excursion will go to a series a outstanding laboratories in Europe. The aim is that students through these visits get inspiration that can be used for designing an international career in plant biotechnology. The literature colloquia are discussions based on the newest scientific literature. Examples of selected topics are: 1. The environmental impact of transgenic plants What are the risks associated with growing transgenic crops? 2. Allergy and transgenes Can allergenic epitopes in major crops be eliminated by molecular breeding or genetic engineering? 3. Improvement of resistance to insect attack For environmental protection it is short-sighted to solve problems with insects by chemical strategies. What role can plant biotechnology play in solving these problems? 4. Improvement of resistance to pathogenic fungi Can markers be identified to assist molecular breeding for the development of resistant crops? 5. Phytoremediation and biofortification Heavy metals in soil pose environmental problems but some of the metals are essential for plant growth and human development. Can plants be developed that clean polluted soils? How to assure that edible plant parts have low levels of harmful metals and nutritionally optimized levels of beneficial metals? 6. Improvement of nutrient efficiency The demand for fertilizers is increasing world-wide with potential environmental problems to be foreseen. The task for the future will be to develop plants that handle nutrients more efficiently but have to proceed further? 7. Cell wall products The plant cell wall is a complex structure that has enormous biotechnological potential. How can we benefit from our current knowledge? 8. Biotech products for developing countries How can developing countries benefit from plant biotechnology and what are the problems that remain to be solved? 9. Pathway engineering in plants Can complex metabolic pathways leading to synthesis of valuable compounds be transferred among different plant species? 10. Engineering salt tolerant plants What are the current bottlenecks for improving the ability of crops to withstand harsh environmental conditions such as drought and salt stress? | |||||||||||||||||||
| Teaching And Learning Methods | |||||||||||||||||||
| Mixture of invited lectures on actual topics, discussion classes on new journal papers and practical laboratory project work. One week excursion abroad to leading laboratories included. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Course Litterature | |||||||||||||||||||
| Unknown at present 15-20 scientific papers will be part of the curriculum. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Course Coordinator | |||||||||||||||||||
| Michael Gjedde Palmgren, palmgren@life.ku.dk, Department of Plant Biology/Plant Physiology and Anatomy Laboratory, Phone: 35332592 Sven Bode Andersen, sba@life.ku.dk, Department of Agricultural Sciences/Plant and Soil Science, Phone: 35333444 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Study Board | |||||||||||||||||||
| Study Committee NSN | |||||||||||||||||||
| Course Scope | |||||||||||||||||||
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