PLBRG 6060

Advanced Plant Genetics

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2017-2018.

Advanced survey of genetics in higher plants including selected topics in transmission genetics, epigenetics, and chromosome biology. Emphasizes development of critical analytical skills through reading of current literature and a class project.

When Offered Spring.

Prerequisites/Corequisites Prerequisite: BIOMG 2800, or PLBRG 2250 and PLBRG 3250, or permission of instructor.

• Familiarity with the main experimental approaches used in transmission genetics studies, including genetic mapping, designing and analyzing mutant screens, and using genetic linkage to clone genes.
• Understanding how chromosome and chromatin structures affect their functions.
• Familiarity with the mechanisms and consequences of genetic recombination.
• Familiarity with main concepts of epigenetics.
• Understanding how plant genomes are shaped by polyploidization, selection, and transposons.
• Understanding how genetic approaches can be used to study biochemical and developmental pathways in plants.
• Appreciation how knowledge of genetic mechanisms evolves in the face of new evidence.
• Familiarity with contemporary literature in the areas of plant genetics covered in the class.
• Ability to formulate genetic hypotheses.
• Ability to critically read and discuss articles describing studies in plant genetics. As well as the ability to design a research project utilizing genetics approaches to solve biological questions through: a. writing a research proposal; b. peer-reviewing proposals; and c. discussing proposals at a proposal panel meeting.

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