Course Description
Structure/manipulation of DNA and inheritance of genes, the current impact of biotechnology on crop production and animal agriculture. Regulatory, intellectual property, environmental, and market issues specific to transgenic crops.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will be required to develop a research project related to agricultural biotechnology that can be conducted over a 5-6 week period. The project must be outlined in proposal format and approved prior to initiation of research. A final report will be required. In addition, an open book essay exam will be administered to graduate students to allow them to explore topics in more depth than undergraduates.
Athena Title
AGRIC BIOTECH
Non-Traditional Format
This course will be offered only on the Tifton campus.
Prerequisite
BIOL 1107-1107L and CHEM 1211 and CHEM 1211L
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Production agriculture now encompasses genetically engineered or transgenic cultivars produced through biotechnology. This course is designed to cover key concepts in the structure and manipulation of DNA and inheritance of genes, traditional plant breeding, the current impact of biotechnology on crop production and animal agriculture, plus regulatory, intellectual property, environmental, societal, and market issues specific to transgenic crops. Biotechnology is an applied science that generates opposing points of view which requires critical thinking skills for evaluation. Such skills must be exercised during assimilation and analysis of a body of information and during communication of the information in academic and professional contexts. Students should achieve an understanding of 1) the similarities and differences between methods for traditional and non-traditional crop improvement 2) techniques required for the development of improved cultivars through biotechnology 3) benefits and risks associated with biotechnology 4) the current impact of biotechnology on society In addition to the science-related objectives, students will achieve competency in written communication of biotechnology- related topics. Learning outcomes include: 1) assimilation, analysis, and presentation of a body of information appropriate for the intended audience 2) interpretation of content of written materials from academic and non-academic sources 3) writing in a style that best communicates the science and related issues
Topical Outline
Week Topic 1 Introduction to biotechnology - what, why, how 2 DNA, essential molecule of life 3 Traditional methods of crop improvement 4 Recombinant DNA technology 5 Gene discovery 6 Plant tissue culture 7 Non-traditional methods for crop improvement 8 Transgene analysis and expression 9 Insect resistance and abiotic stress 10 Herbicide tolerance and virus resistance 11 Value-added traits and identity preservation 12 Plant and animal biotechnology in the marketplace 13 Regulatory, intellectual property, and ethical issues in plant and animal biotechnology 14 Hot topics in biotechnology (student presentations) 15 Hot topics (continued) and review
Syllabus