Intellectual aims: Knowing the theoretical foundations underlying the techniques applied in plant biotechnology. Understand and critically evaluate the published texts. Recognize and explain the aspects, ethical and legal associated with the research. Experimental aims: experimental planning. Implement necessary for the harvesting and preparation of plants for the establishment and cultivation of cells, tissues and plant organs in vitro and acclimatization of plants, comprising the principles underlying its use techniques. Work safely, responsibly and legally, respecting ethical aspects. Sign up and organize the data and apply the skills of critical analysis and to evaluate data on underlying assumptions and theories.
Communicational aims: Process and prepare data for presentation using appropriate methods. Communicate verbally and in writing clearly and concisely about a topic. Quote and cite the work of others appropriately.
Theory. History of Plant biotechnology. In vitro culture of plants: Theoretical principles; Conditions and culture media; types of growth in vitro culture and types of in vitro cultures. Cloning plants: proliferation of meristems and organogenesis. Somatic embryogenesis and artificial seeds. Pollen embryogenesis and haploids production. Cell suspensions and its growth. Production of secondary metabolites. Protoplasts production and somatic hybridization. Genetic transformation of plants; regeneration of transformed plants, testing transformed plants, impacts of genetically modified plants. Practice: Organization of an in vitro culture laboratory; equipment, consumables and laboratory routine operations. Development of hypotheses and experimental design. Techniques for the control of diseases and contaminants. Composition and preparation of culture media. Establishing cultures. Handling and data collection in different cultural stages. Acclimation and development of plants.
Theoretical concepts use: a) teacher-centered teaching methods; expository interspersed with demonstrative actions in the form of short animations and small demonstration projects at classroom, and b) student-centered teaching methods (questions, problems resolution and oriented discussion). The practice uses a) student-centered teaching methods (computer-assisted thematic research) and b) interactive methods of the method of experimental basis - with group work based on experimental laboratory or greenhouse aimed at solving practical problems through the scientific method, use of computer applications for data analysis, performed through discussion sessions on the results, and oral and written presentation.
Canhoto, J.M. 2010. Biotecnologia vegetal: da clonagem de plantas à transformação genética. Imprensa da Universidade de Coimbra. Coimbra.
Leva, A. & Rinaldi, L. 2012. Recent Advances in Plant in vitro Culture. InTech Publisher (open access book)
Altman, A. & Hasegawa P. 2012. Plant Biotechnology and Agriculture. Prospects for the 21st Century. Academic Press. Elsevier. Amsterdam & Boston.
George, E.F.; Hall, M. & De Klerk, G.-J. 2008. Plant propagation by tissue culture. Springer, Dordrecht.
Debergh, P. C. & Zimmerman, R. H. 1993. Micropropagation: technology and application. Kluwer Academic Publ. Dordrecht.
Hartmann, H.T.; Kester, D.E. & Davies Jr., F.T. 1990. Plant propagation: principles and practices. 5th ed., Prentice- Hall International, Englewood Cliffs.
Taiz & Zeiger 2010. Plant Physiology. 5th edition, Sinauer Associates Inc. Publishers. Hiperligação: http://5e.plantphys.net/
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