Plant biology- for future forestry
Den ökade efterfrågan på biobaserad energi, bränsle och specialprodukter och de utmaningar som klimatförändringar ställer på våra skogar, genererar ett behov av nya lösningar. Bioteknologins utveckling och dess tillämpning på skogsträd är en viktig del av dessa lösningar.
I denna kurs lär du dig varför det är viktigt att känna till genomets DNA-sekvens, hur trädgenom sekvenseras, och hur gener som reglerar de molekylära processerna för tillväxt och vedbildning i skogsträd identifieras. Du kommer att förstå hur genomikdata kan stödja förädling och hur gener kan påverkas med hjälp av bioteknologi för tillämpningar i skogsbruket. Betydelsen av klonade träd och frösticklingar för det moderna skogsbruket är andra ämnen som du kommer att fördjupa dig i under kursen. I laborationer lär du dig hur bioteknologiska metoder utförs på träd.
Kursen ger dig ett vetenskapligt förhållningssätt för att kritiskt bedöma möjligheter och utmaningar med bioteknologi och plantageskogsbruk i jämförelse med traditionell förädling. Genom att skriva en populärvetenskaplig uppsats om detta övar du på din argumentationsteknik och ger ditt resonemang ökad trovärdighet både i dina framtida studier och i yrkeslivet.
Information from the course leader
The course will be in hybrid format, which means that lectures will be given either physically at the UPSC or online this year. All information will be communicated through Canvas. There will be, recorded lectures and exercises to do for the students at home, zoom meetings with the teacher that can consist of discussions, exercises or lectures, and physical lectures. More information can be found in the course schedule as well as on Canvas.
Course evaluation
The course evaluation is now closed
SG0242-30061 - Course evaluation report
Once the evaluation is closed, the course coordinator and student representative have 1 month to draft their comments. The comments will be published in the evaluation report.
Additional course evaluations for SG0242
Academic year 2022/2023
Plant biology- for future forestry (SG0242-30174)
2023-01-16 - 2023-02-15
Academic year 2020/2021
Plant biology- for future forestry (SG0242-30017)
2021-01-18 - 2021-02-17
Academic year 2019/2020
Plant biology- for future forestry (SG0242-30015)
2020-01-20 - 2020-02-19
Academic year 2018/2019
Plant biology- for future forestry (SG0242-30246)
2019-01-21 - 2019-02-20
Syllabus and other information
Syllabus
SG0242 Plant biology- for future forestry, 7.5 Credits
Växtbiologi - för framtidens skogsbrukSubjects
Forest Science Forest scienceEducation cycle
Bachelor’s levelModules
Title | Credits | Code |
---|---|---|
Single module | 7.5 | 0101 |
Advanced study in the main field
First cycle, has at least 60 credits in first-cycle course/s as entry requirementsBachelor’s level (G2F)
Grading scale
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.
Language
EnglishPrior knowledge
Knowledge at basic level equivalent to- 90 credits in Forest Science including
- 10 credits Chemistry
and
- English 5
or
- 90 credits biology including
- 10 credits chemistry
Objectives
The course intends to provide knowledge of how modern plant biology can contribute to the development of sustainable forestry for example through designed breeding of trees a for a bio-based economy.
On completion of the course, the student should be able to:
Account for wood development and wood properties in forest trees
Describe and explain a number of new, molecular technologies used in tree breeding
Identify a number of different qualitative wood properties of significance for future forestry and bio-based economy and account for their breeding potential
Apply popular scientific writing and orally argue and evaluate advantages and disadvantages of gene-modified trees and plantation forestry
With some supervision carry out laboratory work within molecular plant biology and evaluate the results
Content
The course gives an understanding about how fundamental biology is the basis for applications for future forestry. It deals with key factors such as water- and nitrogen-uptake, photosynthesis and carbohydrate metabolism – and transport which are essential for tree growth. Discussions and case studies are used for the students to acquire knowledge about how these processes are affected by environmental conditions (e.g. climate change, fertilization) and can be optimized (e.g. by gene technology).
Presentations and discussions then focus on wood characteristics important for the quality of future forest products as well as for a biobased economy; namely fiber-characteristics, chemical composition, enery value etc. New technologies for tree breeding such as marker assisted selection, clonal amplification and gene manipulation and their importance in plantation forestry are presented. Compulsory laboratory practices and lab-report writing gives the students in depth knowledge about how gene manipulation in plants is carried out in practice.
The value of these new methods for future forestry as well as society’s view on those is taken up in discussions. Advantages and disadvantages of plantation forestry compared with traditional forestry are evaluated by the students in compulsory essay writing as well as a seminar. The student is given the opportunity to train peer-review during these course moments.
Grading form
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.Formats and requirements for examination
Passed written exam, passed written report of laboratory sessions and passed essay and participation in compolsury seminars.
If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.
The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.
If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.
For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Other information
The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.
If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Additional information
Students who have passed the chemistry section of the course SG0141 Ecosystems biogeochemistry and physics 19 credits or SG0210 Chemistry for forest ecosystem studies satisfy the special entry requirements for 10 credits in chemistry.SLU is environmentally certified according to ISO 14001. A large part of our courses cover knowledge and skills that contribute positively to the environment. To further strengthen this, we have specific environmental goals for the education. Students are welcome to suggest actions regarding the course’s content and implementation that lead to improvements for the environment. For more information, see webpage www.slu.se.
Responsible department
Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology
Further information
Grading criteria
Betygskriterier
Växtbiologi för framtidens skogsbruk, 7,5hp
Betyg 3
Studenten kan: 1) ge en sammanfattande bild av hur grundforskning inom växtbiologi kan bidra till skogsbruk; 2) beskriva vedbildningen i skogsträd; 3) redogöra för centrala begrepp inom den molekylära växtbiologin; 4) använda några grundläggande laborationstekniker inom molekylär växtbiologi och skriva laborationsrapporter.
Betyg 4
Studenten kan: 1) ge en sammanfattande bild av hur grundforskning inom växtbiologi kan bidra till skogsbruk; 2) beskriva vedbildningen i skogsträd; 3) redogöra för centrala begrepp inom den molekylära växtbiologin; 4) använda några grundläggande laborationstekniker inom molekylär växtbiologi och skriva laborationsrapporter; 5) redogöra för trädegenskaper av betydelse för framtida skogsbruk och biobaserad ekonomi. Studenten kan också relatera sina kunskaper från traditionellt skogsbruk och plantageskogsbruk till nya tekniker inom skogsträdsförädling.
Betyg 5
Studenten kan: 1) ge en sammanfattande bild av hur grundforskning inom växtbiologi kan bidra till skogsbruk; 2) beskriva vedbildningen i skogsträd; 3) redogöra för centrala begrepp inom den molekylära växtbiologin; 4) använda några grundläggande laborationstekniker inom molekylär växtbiologi och skriva laborationsrapporter; 5) redogöra för trädegenskaper av betydelse för framtida skogsbruk och biobaserad ekonomi. Studenten kan också relatera sina kunskaper från traditionellt skogsbruk och plantageskogsbruk till nya tekniker inom skogsträdsförädling, samt kritiskt granska bioteknikens möjligheter för framtidens skogsbruk.
Litterature list
- Plant Biology Författare: Alison Smith et al ISBN: 978-0-8153-4025-6