Plant Biology and Genetic Engineering

4 units

A 4 credit lecture course that provides an introduction to plant development, genetics, physiology and biochemistry with emphasis on processes that can be manipulated or better understood through genetic engineering. The course is divided into 3 sections. The first section of the course discusses basic plant biology, development and genetics. The second part of the course emphasizes gene structure, expression, and cloning as well as methods for introducing foreign DNA into plant cells and regenerating fertile plants in tissue culture. During the third part of the course we will discuss a variety of examples of genetically engineered traits, including: herbicide resistance; fruit ripening; pathogen and/or insect resistance; the use of plants for production of industrial and pharmaceutical compounds. Friday discussion sections focus on critical reading of the primary literature related to the material covered in lecture. (Biology Major Area A)