521-306 Plant Biochemistry & Biotechnology

Credit Points

Coordinator

Prerequisites

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 521-211 and 521-212 together with either Botany 606-205 and 606-206 or Biochemistry 521-221. Other combinations that provide a similar background will be considered by the coordinators.

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

By the end of the program the student should have acquired: a detailed understanding of the cellular and molecular processes underlying the regulation of basic plant functions including the modes of action of plant hormones; a detailed knowledge of photosynthetic light reactions and carbon and nitrogen metabolism associated with plant growth and development; a detailed knowledge of the structure and function of plant lipids and of cell wall carbohydrates; an insight into cell-cell recognition and signalling during plant development and the response to pathogens and symbionts; an understanding of the organisation of the genome in plants and its modification by biotechnology; an overall appreciation of the application of biotechnology to agriculture, horticulture, forestry and the food industry.

The course will focus on those aspects of biochemistry and cellular biology which contribute unique properties to plants and discuss current technologies for their investigation and manipulation including genetic engineering and plant transformation.

Assessment

A 2.5-hour end-of-semester written examination (75%); plus one short oral (5%) and a written assignment of no more than 2000 words (20%).