- Docente: Annalisa Tassoni
- Credits: 2
- SSD: BIO/01
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Biotechnologies (cod. 0090)
Learning outcomes
To aquire basic knowledge of the biotechnological aspects of creating, analysing and selecting transgenic plants, and corresponding controls
Course contents
General concepts of plant biotechnology.
Increase of human population and agricultural development. Development, productivity and sustainability. Technological basis for modern agriculture.
Plant biotechnology:
- Hydroponic and aeroponic cultures
- Plant cell and tissue culture: propagation and micropropagation. Protoplast and cell fusion.
- Plant cells and organs for the production of special chemicals (alkaloids and other useful compounds).
- Somatic and zygotic embryogenesis.
- Gene transfer in plants: different methods.
Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Agrobacterium rhizogenes.
The use of A. rhizogenes plasmid and other bacterial plasmids to induce morphogenesis in vitro and for the synthesis of pharmaceutical/industrial chemicals. Role of hormones in in vitro organogenesis. General concepts of plant nutrition.
Transgenic plants. Molecular basis of plant improvement and genetic engineering. Natural plant defence strategies against pathogens. Taxol as an anticancer drug. Benefits and risk assessment in using transgenic plants.
Readings/Bibliography
Papers supplied by the teacher and suggested text book: MAARTEN J. CHRISPEELS e DAVID E. SADAVA, Biologia Vegetale Applicata (ed. italiana a cura di M. Maffei), Piccin Editore, 1996.
Teaching methods
Class lessons
Assessment methods
Oral examination. Rating in 30/30, integrated with the other modules of the CI.
Links to further information
Office hours
See the website of Annalisa Tassoni