Molecular Biology of Plants

Code:

BIOL4009

Acronym:

BIOL4009

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Biology

Instance: 2015/2016 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Biology
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Functional Biology and Biotechnology of Plants

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
M:BFBP	14	Plano de Estudos M:BFBP_2015_2016	1	-	6	42	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

This UC addresses the molecular, genomic, biochemical, cell biological, and computational approaches to understand plant physiology and development at a molecular level. The biotechnological applications powered by molecular tools are also addressed. 

Learning outcomes and competences

Students will learn how to critically evaluate published work and how to apply molecular and cellular concepts and strategies: i) to the identification of biological questions, ii) to the design of research and iii) to the interpretation of results. It is also intended that students acquire practical skills for using several laboratory and in silico tools from the field.

More specifically, te student should acquire competences to:
i) interpret and understand the molecular processes involved in plant biology;
ii) survey and deepen specific aspects of plant biology, knowing how to use the available tools;
iii) formulate experimental strategies involving molecular methodologies for the study of problems from plant functional biology and for biotechnological applications;
iv) perform an analyze with criticism experimental approaches and respective interpretations in the area of plant functional biology;
v) understand and analyze with criticism plant biotechnological applications.

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Plants as a model study – characteristic features, questions under study and applications.


2. Molecular methodologies for the study of plants. Transformation methods specific of plants: Agrobacterium, biolistic, protoplast transformation. Stable and transient transformation. Techniques for in vitro culture associated with the production of transgenic cells, organs, or plants. Reporter systems used in plants: GUS, LUC and fluorescent proteins. Methodologies for inducible expression, tissue specific expression, overexpression and silencing of genes. "T-DNA tagging" and "transposon tagging" to obtain insertion mutants. The use of model plants: Arabidopsis, rice, Medicago truncatula and Physcomitrella patens. Tools available.


3. Systems biology of plants. Status quo of genome sequencing in plants. Studies of transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics. Bioinformatic tools.


4. Plant biotechnology. Applications of biotechnology in agro-industry. Present and future of plant biotechnology, current legislation and the public debate.


5. Case studies presented by faculty and invited researchers.

6. Hands-on work with laboratory and in silico tools used in pl

Mandatory literature

Taiz Lincoln; Plant physiology. ISBN: 978-0-87893-831-5

Complementary Bibliography

Buchanan Bob B. 340; Biochemistry & molecular biology of plants. ISBN: 978-0-943088-39-6

Teaching methods and learning activities

Interactive theoretical presentations by researchers carrying out research in the area, with the transmission and discussion of the latest advances in knowledge, research strategies and methodologies in the area. Presentation and discussion of articles and of research strategies and tools. Development of two practical cases using in silico tools and several laboratory techniques. Evaluation includes: i) a report of one of the practical works, ii) the oral presentation of a biological question and the strategy to develop in order to answer the question, within a defined scientifical area, and iii) a written test.

keywords

Natural sciences > Biological sciences > Biology
Natural sciences > Biological sciences > Biology > Molecular biology
Natural sciences > Biological sciences
Natural sciences > Biological sciences > Botany > Plant physiology
Natural sciences > Biological sciences > Biology
Natural sciences > Biological sciences > Biology > Cell biology

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	35,00
Prova oral	35,00
Trabalho escrito	30,00
Total:	100,00

Calculation formula of final grade

Oral presentation of a project - 35%
Written report of a pratical work - 30% 
Exam - 35%