Plant Biotechnology

The course will introduce the student to the field of plant biotechnology, modification and use of the plants for improvement of human well being. The student will learn modern protocols of plant transgenesis including transformation and regeneration. Plant genetics, selection and crossing of Arabidopsis thaliana as well as plant pathology based on the interaction of Tobacco with Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV) will be introduced.

Objectives

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated in planta-transformation of Arabidopsis thaliana (floral-dip). Selection of putative transformants. Quantitative and histochemical analysis of gus gene in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana. Transient expression of gfp transgene in Nicotiana benthamiana. Gene silencing of gfp transgene in Nicotiana benthamiana. In silico search of gene sequences and identification of mutations in on-line gene databases.

Prerequisites

None

Syllabus

Plant tissue culture Model plants in Plant Biotechnology Transgene features (factors that affect expression, modification, promoters, etc.) Agrobacterium tumefaciens (biology, Τi plasmid, tumor formation, T-DNA transfer, transformation, vector systems, transgene analysis)- Αgrobacterium rhizogenes Methodologies for direct gene transfer (particle bombardment, electroporation etc.) Clean DNA technology Plastid transformation Transient gene expression-Gene silencing transformation systems Applications: Improved Agronomic traits Improved quality and yield traits Improved developmental traits Molecular “pharming” Risk assessment Patents- Public acceptance of transgenic plants Molecular breeding Genomics and mutagenesis (tagging, high-throughput systems, etc.)