Agricultural Biotechnology

4 Credits.

This course is designed to provide an introduction to the application of recombinant DNA technology in agriculture. We will study methods for the introduction of foreign DNA into plant and animal cells and the generation of stably transformed plants and animals. We will discuss specific examples of the use of transgenic plants and animals in biotechnology, which can provide protection against insects, diseases, and tolerance to specific herbicides. We will also investigate how recombinant growth hormones can result in leaner meat, greater milk yield, and better feed utilization, as well as how transgenic plants and animals can serve as bioreactors for the production of medicinals or protein pharmaceuticals. Because recombinant agricultural products are released into the environment or consumed as foods, we will also discuss environmental safety issues. Prerequisites: 410.601 Biochemistry 410.602 Molecular Biology, 410.603 Advanced Cell Biology I.