The course aims to provide knowledge on biotechnological applications in agriculture and forestry as well as how modern molecular biological methods can be used in plant breeding. The course has several elements. Part 1 deals with the genetic transformation of plants with Agrobacterium system, but also with other techniques and tissue culture propagation. Specific problems regarding e.g. grasses and trees are discussed, and the laboratory sections illustrate the transformation and tissue culture of plants. Part 2 deals with how plants but also to some extent bacteria can be utilized as production systems for example, chemicals, fuel, drugs and antibodies, as well as how plants can be genetically modified to have an altered nutrient content (e.g. Golden rice) or to become more resistant to stress. Practical exercises are also included in this subsection. Part 3 concerns with various genetic techniques used in plant breeding, e.g. various molecular markers, genetic maps and even some population genetics / studies of natural variation. Molecular breeding work of various crops are also raised, and the laboratory exercises demonstrate such the use of molecular markers. In Part 4 the social aspects of plant biotechnology is dicsussed, for example, legislation of GMO plants in Sweden and the EU, patent legislation, risk assessment and ethical aspects of GMO plants and similar substances.
The course is divided into three phases: theory (10.5 credits), literature studies and seminarium presentation (1.5 credits), laboratory exercises (3 credits)
Plant biotechnology and molecular breeding, 15 credits
Spring Term 2025
The information below is only for exchange students
Starts
20 January 2025
Ends
24 March 2025
Study location
Umeå
Language
English
Type of studies
Daytime,
100%
Required Knowledge
90 ECTS credits, of which at least 15 ECTS credits are in the main area of chemistry and 60 ECTS credits in the main area of biology where at least 30 ECTS credits should be in cell- and molecular biology. Swedish for basic eligibility for higher education programmes and English B/6. Requirements for Swedish only apply if the course is held in Swedish.
Selection
Students applying for courses within a double degree exchange agreement, within the departments own agreements will be given first priority. Then will - in turn - candidates within the departments own agreements, faculty agreements, central exchange agreements and other departmental agreements be selected.
Application code
UMU-A5098
Application
This application round is only intended for nominated exchange students. Information about deadlines can be found in the e-mail instruction that nominated students receive.
The online application opens 26 August 2024 at 08:00 CET.
