Learning objectives
This course is aimed to highlight the potential of microorganisms as cell factories for the production of goods and services. The different approaches for screening, selection and genetic manipulation of industrial strains are described. General arrangement and sectors of application of products of industrial fermentations are considered.
Prerequisites
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Course unit content
First level knowledge. Plant cells and their peculiarities. How plant cells characteristics drive biotechnology processes.
Methodologies. From plant to cells: tissues dissection, explants preparation,cell culture and tissue culture, anthers cultures and pollen cultures. From cells to plants. Rigeneration, somatic embryogenesis, organogenesis, micropropagation. Cells dissection techniques: organelles purification, proteins extraction, nucleic acids extraction. Non-invasie methodologies for cell study: immunofluorescence, microinjection, fluorescence microscopy.
Applications. Clone production, somatic clones and useful genotypeslarge-scale propagation. Pathogens-resistants plants production. Germplasm conservation for interesting species. Intraspecies hybrids production: protoplasts fusion, male sterility. Biotechnological approaches for genetic improvement: marker assisted selection. Useful substances production. Primary metabolism: sugars and polysaccarides, aminoacids and proteins, lipids. Secondary metabolism: drugs and fibres. Plants exploitation as a source of biomass, as environmental decontamination agents and a biosensors. Transgenic plants applications.
Full programme
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Bibliography
-Gamborg, OL and Phillips, GC "Plant cell, tissue and organ culture: fundamental methods" Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg Sala, F e Cella, R "Colture di cellule vegetali : metodi ed applicazioni" Piccin, Padova
-Material provided by the lecturer
Teaching methods
frontal lectures and laboratory experience
Assessment methods and criteria
written and oral examination
Other information
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