Biotechnology and breeding for sustainable agriculture. Genetic variability: how to find and exploit new alleles. genes. Experimental mutagenesis in plants. Structural genomics and sequencing programs in plants. Genomic tools for genetic improvement: molecular markers. Selection assisted by molecular markers. Unconventional methods for genetic improvement. Transgenes in agricultural species. The genetic modification for the nutritional value of foodstuffs and industrial purposes.
Genetica generale. Barcaccia e Falcinelli, Liguori editor.
Selected paper from scientific literature are proposed in relation to lectures.
Learning Objectives
Skills acquired: familiarity with state of the art and with biotech tools for agro industry
Teaching Methods
Classes consist in lessons seminars laboratories and workshops for the discussion of scientific papers and reports given by the teacher o proposed by students
Further information
The course is present on E-learning platform.
Type of Assessment
Examination is written and oral.
The questions will be formulated in such a way as to verify that the student, in addition to gaining specific knowledge, has acquired the ability to elaborate and correlate the issues dealt with during the course.
Course program
Contribution of Genetics and Plant Biotechnologies to sustainable agriculture. Breeding strategies to increase production in a changing world. Genetic variability. Induction variability sources of new variable variability study. The mutation, experimental mutagenic methods. Vegetative reproduction in vitro cultures, somatic embryogenesis, protoplasts, somatic hybridization. Advanced breeding strategies. The concept of genetic modification and methodologies for obtaining genetic engineering techniques, RNAi Nuclease based. GMOs and the risk factors for the environment and human health. Patents and costs. ISAAA report spread biotech crops around the world. EFSA documents on GMOs. Metabolic engineering: the "Golden rice" Metabolic engineering for nutraceuticals fatty acid modification, biosynthesis modifications: coffee, potatoes, beetroot. Metabolic engineering for lignin biosynthesis: the contribution of biotechnologies to the use of bio-cellulose biomass for the production of bioethanol. Herbicide resistance: 1) history of weeding practices. Classification of herbicides for application times, spectrum of action, pathways and target molecules. Herbicide resistance 2) Detoxification of glyphosate. AMPA and GOX genes. GM plants for resistance to one or more herbicides and resistance to several kinds of harmful insectsBiotechnological approaches to insect and nematode resistance. Bt technology: Cry and Cyt genes. New resistance genes: chitinase, lectine, alpha-amylase. RNA interference for resistance to nematodes and beetles. Genomics: understanding the structure of plant genomes. Applications sequencing programs for the improvement of crop species. Sequenced plant genomes: what we learned about. Genetic markers: definitions, characteristics of the ideal marker, major techniques for studying molecular markers applications for genetic improvement.Recombination in eukaryotes. To build a genetic map. Genetic maps and physical maps.Molecular Markers: microsatellite and SNPs features, presence in the nuclear genome and organelles, advantages and disadvantages of the use. Application of molecular markers to genetic improvement: assisted selection, traceability of products, phylogenetic relationships and molecular taxonomy.