Programme

Three are the main arguments of the course:
-Gene transfer techniques;
-Applications of Plant Biotechnology;
-Analysis of Risks and Benefits of plant genetic manipulation.

In detail, during the course the following arguments are discussed:
Techniques for gene transfer into the nuclear and palstidic genome; Techniques for in vitro culture of plant cells; Use of selectable gene markers and reporte genes; Strategies to remove selectable markers from transgenic plants; Inducible expressione of transgenes in plants; Transient expression of genes in plants; Gene silencing in plants and applications; 'Gene targeting' in plants; 'Genome editing' in plants; Plants with improved nutritional value; Production of various molecules, such as antibodies and vaccines, in transgenic plants; Biotechnological strategies to obtain plants resistant to herbicides, pathogens and environmental stresses; Plants with increased Photosynthetic rate; Biosafety and Bioethical issues related to plant Biotechnology; emerging technologies and Plant Biotechnology

Core Documentation

-Recommended textbooks:

1. BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF PLANTS (2000) BUCHANAN B.B, GRUISSEM W., JONES R.L., AMERICAN SOCIETY OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGISTS, ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND.
2. HANDBOOK OF PLANT BIOYECHNOLOGY (2004) CHRISTOU P., KLEE H., HOBOKEN, (N.J.), WILEY.
3. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY AND TRANSGENIC PLANTS (2002) OKSMAN-CALDENTEY K.-M., BARZ W.H., NEW YORK, DEKER.

-Scientific articles published in international journals (pdf files will be provided).
-Lecture notes will be provided.

Type of delivery of the course

The course will take place through classrooms lectures and laboratory activities. Lectures are organized by means of power point presentations that are made available to the students. The laboratory activities are organized in such a way to allow each student to beneficiate a single experimental position (or in pairs) and to actively participate to the activities. Before each laboratory activity, students are adequately informed and trained about the risks inherent in the exercise and provided with safety data sheets for the materials used and individual protection devices. Students complete and countersign a declaration of training / information / training regarding the aforementioned risks. Each laboratory activity is accompanied by a training course carried out by means of a printed informative material which is provided to each student and which contains questions of verification of comprehension, ability to calculate, ability to apply to problems associated with the exercise. Laboratory activities: -Transformation of Arabidopsis or tomato plants -Analysis of trasgenic plants by PCR, RT-PCR, WESTERN BLOT and enzyme activity assays -Analysis of reporter genes in transgenic plants Activities: teaching set-up of experience and safety standards, assistance to the exercise, calculations, discussion of the results.

Type of evaluation

The exam can be performed in two ways: 1. Three mid-term written tests with attribution of a score effective for the final vote. Each written test consists of a brief description of 2-4 topics held during the course. Maximum score is 30/30, whereas minimum score for a positive outcome is 18/30. It is necessary to the obtain at least the minimum score to all three written exams. Final score is the average value of the three partial scores. It is possible to improve the final score with an oral exam. 2. Oral exam from the whole program. Maximum score is 30/30, whereas minimum score for a positive outcome is 18/30. The knowledge of the topics and the capacity for critical analysis will be evaluated. The active participation in the lectures and the laboratory work will be considered positively for the final score. The active participation in the laboratory work will be considered positively for the final score.