Advanced MolecularBiology and Gentics

This course will provide a better understanding of the mechanism and regulation of fundamental processes in biological information transfer from DNA to RNA to protein, how this knowledge can be used in manipulation and improvement of plants of agronomic importance. Key topics to be covered include: The Cell as a unit of life; Cell division, differentiation and development; Review of Mendelian genetics; Causes of genetic variation; Biomolecules, their structure and function; Genome organization and maintenance; Gene Expression; Mobile genetic elements; Concepts of population genetics; Genetic linkage analysis; Concepts of quantitative genetics; Genetic basis of plant–pathogen interactions; Molecular markers; Gene cloning and expression; Recombinant DNA Technology.