PLBRG 2250 - Plant Genetics

(OPHLS-AG) (CU-SBY)

Spring. 4 credits. Letter grades only.

Forbidden Overlap: due to an overlap in content, students will not receive credit for both PLBRG 2250 and PLBRG 2253.
Prerequisite: one majors-level biology course or equivalent. Co-meets with PLBRG 2253.

M. Mazourek.

Surveys fundamental plant genetics with a focus on applications in agriculture and plant sciences. Reviews and extends concepts from introductory biology for students with an interest in plants and their contributions to food, fiber, biofuels, ornamentals and ecology. Also preparation for advanced coursework in genetics for students considering graduate studies in a related field. Unique topics include polyploidy and organellar inheritance, pollination, seed saving and basic plant breeding. Companion lab exercises follow a generation of pea breeding and includes plant pollination techniques, DNA extraction and sequencing, molecular markers.

Outcome 1: Access and review the background information necessary for designing a plant breeding program or genetics study with proper citations from primary literature.

Outcome 2: Describe of the roles of DNA mutation, allele segregation, epigenetics and mechanisms that promote cross pollination in contributing to the diversity, ecology, genetic improvement, evolution and uses of plants.

Outcome 3: Interpret new genetic findings, applications, tests and theories reported in the popular media or later judge their impact on their lives within a framework of examples, concepts and principles.

Outcome 4: Follow protocols and apply concepts in class to pollination, DNA extraction and analysis, scoring and genetic evaluations of plant phenotypes.