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Crop Sciences

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

CPSC 566: Plant Gene Regulation

4 hours

Course Description This course covers current topics and literature on the function and regulation of higher plant genes. Topics of particular emphasis: transposable elements, their effect on gene expression and variation, and uses in tagging and isolating genes; the developmental, tissue specific, or environmental regulation of plant genes; the structure, synthesis, subcellular targeting, and regulation of major cereal and legume seed proteins; the use of genetic engineering to explore the regulation of plant genes or to alter traits of agricultural importance. In addition, current literature on structural and functional genomics projects in plants will be covered.

Same as HORT 566.

Text: There is no required text. Primary literature is used.

Outline of topics used in Spring 2000
Course Objectives

By the end of this course, you will:

  • become familiar with the current and seminal literature in plant gene regulation and transposable elemenets
  • learn to interpret the original literature in plant molecular genetics and genomics
  • become familiar with the basic methods of molecular genetics research needed to interpret the primary literature in this area
  • gain practice in making written and oral presentations on current research in plant molecular genetics and genomics
Instructor Lila O. Vodkin
384A Edward R. Madigan Laboratory
Phone: (217) 244-6147
E-mail: l-vodkin@uiuc.edu (preferred contact method)
Prerequisites CPSC 352, MCB 350, or consent of instructor.
Requirement(s) Fulfilled Elective
Grading

Course Requirements:

  1. Written critique of 3-4 pages on an original research article: 20% of grade.
    (Articles should be from
  2. Two written, short essay tests on the dates listed above: (25% x 2, 50% of grade).
  3. Oral presentation: 20% (topics and papers will be decided on in the class; provide the class with a copy of the article to be covered the period before. Articles will be selected from 1997 to present literature.
  4. Overall class participation and serve as discussion leader of one of the student presentations (10%): You will be expected to provide additional comments on one of the papers covered by your fellow students and to actively lead the discussion after the presentation.

Some suggested journals for articles are the following: Cell, EMBO, Genetics, Molecular and General Genetics, Nature, The Plant Cell, The Plant Journal, Plant Molecular Biology, Plant Physiology, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., (PNAS), Science