PLSC 416

The objective of this course is to give students a broad background on the fundamental aspects of biotechnology as they apply to the improvement of our world. Plant biotechnology is a highly dynamic area which is being accelerated by advances in technologies which enable precise measurements on both the small (e.g., cellular) and large (e.g., population) levels. Importantly, novel discoveries are often facilitated by “connecting the dots” between technologies, and thus students will be encouraged to think creatively when applying technologies to answer biological questions as they apply to plants. Biotechnology has its basis in a deep understanding of the biology and evolution of plants, and thus each lecture week is organized around a concept which connects (1) natural variation in plants, (2) the cutting-edge technologies used to query different aspects of plant biology, and (3) the much-needed applications of these technological advances to the world around you.