METABOLIC ENGINEERING OF PLANTS
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Bibliography
- Delivery method
- Teaching methods
Advanced knowledge of plant biology and biotechnology.
Oral exam includes material from lectures, assigned readings, and discussions.
Alternatively, candidates may present a report incorporating recent relevant literature on a selected topics.
The final score is given in 30ies: the examination is successful if a score ≥ 18/30 is gained.
SUBJECT GOALS
This is a multidisciplinary course encompassing plant physiology, biochemistry, molecular biology and biotechnology. It focuses on the biosynthesis and metabolic engineering of plant secondary metabolites. The course is based on theoretical lessons and experimental lab activitites.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
• Cognitive skills
- ability to explain how and why plants produce secondary metabolites;
- ability to explain why and how different plant chemical compounds are important for human health;
- understanding of the basic principles of plant biochemical pathway engineering to improve the production of compounds of interest for humans;
• Learning abilities
- ability to gather, assess, evaluate, interpret and communicate scientific and technical data
- ability required to identify and access relevant information and resources about plant secondary metabolism and biopharming
• Practical and subject specific skills
- ability to conduct research, data collection and analysis in the field of plant biotechnology applied to secondary metabolism
- ability to search for, identify and consider all sides of an issue in this research field
• Communication skills
- ability to compile and organize facts and information
- ability to resume and present the scientific information to diverse audiences
- skills to discuss, support and/or reject ideas, opinions, reports, theories and proposals
• Primary and secondary plant metabolism; ecological significance of plant secondary metabolites; their l effects on bacteria, insects and human health;
• the main classes of secondary metabolites of plants (terpenoids, alkaloids, phe-nylpropanoids, flavonoids, glucosinolates);
• metabolic engineering to improve the content of bioactive secondary metabolism with applicable value in medicinal plants;
• biotechnological applications for commercial purpose; production of secondary me-tabolites by plant cell and tissue cultures;
• the use of plant system to obtain pharmaceutical products (biopharming).
The lab work is designed to illustrate some of the technical methods discussed in the course.
Slides of lessons: from the Elearning website
Readings from the recent literature will be assigned and made available through e-learning site.
Lessons and lab activities