Plant Genomics and Proteomics

Catalog description

Plants are stationary, rooted (if you will pardon the pun) to the spot. Therefore, their immediate environment determines their ability to maximize their vegetative and reproductive productivity. Crop improvement is necessary to continue to provide nutrition to a growing global population, particularly in the face of disruptions to the growing environment associated with global climate change. The methods for developing improved crop varieties have dramatically changed over the past few decades with the explosion of new genomic technologies. In this course, we will cover the technologies that have illuminated the sequence and organization of the DNA in the plant genome, which regions are transcribed, the functions of these regions, and the many modifications of DNA, RNA, and proteins that are used to contribute to the control of gene expression and to the identity of the different types of cells. The interactions between plants and their environment to maintain growth in the face of the insults from abiotic (e.g. heat, cold, drought, flooding, etc.) and biotic (pests and diseases) stresses will be considered. Finally, these findings will be placed in the context of developing resilient varieties to maintain the food supply through breeding and genetic modification. The societal concerns regarding the emergence and release of plants developed using the new genomic technologies will also be considered. Recommended preparation: BIOL 326 . Offered as BIOL 328 and BIOL 428 . Prereq: Graduate student standing.