Plant Molecular Biology & Biotechnology

The subject focuses on the functional biology of plants and how it can be modified by biotechnology. Students will explore topics through a series of vignettes including plant diseases and microbiomes; plant water productivity; cell wall biosynthesis for climate change mitigation; photosynthesis and enhancement for food security; nutrient uptake and fertiliser reduction; and the genome in plants and its modification by biotechnology and biodiversity. The practical class experiences and

• 1explain the functional biology specific to plants through writing practical reports and a final examination;
• 2apply concepts of biotechnology to agriculture, horticulture, forestry and the food industries;
• 3evaluate current benefits or limitations for converting plant molecular biology to applied biotechnological outcomes; and
• 4demonstrate practical skills to perform plant molecular biology experiments, including data analysis and evaluation.
• 5identify and communicate key issues in plant biotechnology and analysis of scientific data in written and/or oral presentations