Molecular Biology of Plants

biology
biotechnology

elective courses

Genetics and Genetic Engineering 1400-114GEN
Molecular Biology 1400-215BM

Students should have basic knowledge about genetics and biochemistry, as well as molecular biology techniques (e.g. electrophoresis of nucleic acids and proteins). Practical skills in applying these techniques are not necessary.

Classroom

Lectures present molecular mechanisms underlying the most important processes during plant development, hormone signalling, and responses to environmental stimuli (e.g., stresses). During the practical course, basic concepts of molecular biology are presented, as well as more specialized genetic and molecular techniques used in plant research, especially using model organism Arabidopsis thaliana. Students learn methods that are used in work with Arabidopsis mutants and transgenic lines, such as identification and genotyping of mutantions, isolation and separation of nucleic acids and proteins, protein immunodetection, and gene expression analyses. This course is dedicated to students working (or planning to work) with plants, as well as students of other specialisations that are interested in molecular biology techniques.

Lecture:

1. Methods in molecular biology. 2 Model plants, plant genomics, structure and evolution of plant genomes. 3. Forward and reverse genetics in functional analysis of plant genes. 4. Regulation of Eucariotic gene expression. 5. Signaling pathways in plants. 6. Genetic regulation of circadian clock and flowering in plants. 7. Regulation of gene expression in organella. 8. Chromatin and epigenetic inheritance. 9. Global analysis of gene expression: microarrays, proteomics and metabolomics. 10. Modern plant biotechnology and ethics.

Laboratory session:

Students conduct three experimental parts involving different types of analyses of Arabidopsis lines: phenotypic characterisation and genotyping of Arabidopsis insertional mutants; analysis of transcript levels in a mutant line; analysis of protein levels in transgenic Arabidopsis plants.

Description of experimental procedures:

1. Characterisation of Arabidopsis mutants

Used techniques: mutant phenotyping and genotyping of mutants in genes encoding H1 (linker histone), involving isolation of genomic DNA, DNA electrophoresis, and PCR.

2. Analysis of H1 expression levels

Used techniques: RT-PCR and RT-qPCR (including isolation of total RNA, cDNA synthesis, PCR and gel electrophoresis, real-time PCR).

3. Analysis of H1-GFP fusion proteins

Used techniques: protein isolation, SDS-PAGE, western blot, fluorescent microscopy, transient expression of H1-GFP in Arabidopsis or tobacco.

1. Fundamental Molecular Biology. Lizabeth A. Allison. Wiley, 2011

2. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Plants. Buchanan, Gruissem, Jones 2000

3. Recent articles from scientific journals provided by lecturers

KNOWLEDGE

- Knows structural, genetic, metabolic and functional diversity of developing and differentiating plant organisms

- Knows various techniques and advanced laboratory tools used in plant molecular biology and knows how to plan their application in proper and efficient experiments.

- Knows the basics of genetic modifications of plant material

- Knows various techniques and tools used in plant molecular biology

SKILLS

- Is able to draw proper conclusions and interpret research results of molecular analyses based on the obtained data

- Is able to apply various techniques and tools used in plant molecular biology

- Is able to study on his/her own and focus on the study area

- Has knowledge sufficient for using electronic resources and scientific literature devoted to plant molecular biology

SOCIAL AWARENESS

- Ability to improve joint work of the team

- Is responsible for the research which has been assigned to him/her, for his/her own laboratory work and other people’s work.

- Is responsible for the assessment of the risks associated with the research techniques used and for ensuring safe working conditions

- Understanding the need for continuous learning.

Exam in a written form (3-5 open questions) after obtaining a positive grade of the laboratories. After completing three laboratory experiments students interpret and discuss their results with lecturer. Students have to present their results or pass final written test (close-ended questions).

not apply