SL50203: Food security and the Environment
[Page last updated: 26 October 2023]
| Academic Year: | 2023/24 |
| Owning Department/School: | Department of Life Sciences |
| Credits: | 15 [equivalent to 30 CATS credits] |
| Notional Study Hours: | 300 |
| Level: | Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7) |
| Period: |
- Academic Year
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| Assessment Summary: | CWOI 40%, EXOB 30%, PRPR 30% |
| Assessment Detail: |
- Lab report (PRPR 30%)
- 3hr exam (EXOB 30%)
- Research seminar (CWOI 40%)
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| Supplementary Assessment: |
- Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
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| Requisites: |
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| Learning Outcomes: |
By the end of the unit you will be able to:
- identify the major groups of plant pathogens, describe their key biological features and infection strategies, and explain diverse disease management strategies
- explain the molecular and biochemical basis of host-pathogen interactions, and describe biotechnological approaches to manipulate such interactions to develop novel crop protection strategies
- describe the molecular components of the plant immune system and immune signalling leading to disease resistance
- employ techniques to isolate and inoculate plants with diverse pathogens to assess their disease susceptibility or resistance, the progression of the disease process and identify underlying mechanisms.
- describe the latest technologies utilised in plant biotechnology
- understand the first generation and new generation traits deployed in plant biotechnology and their utility
- explain the effects of conventional crops and biotech crops on the environment in terms of socio-economic costs and benefits.
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| Aims: | This unit is aimed at students interested in understanding the molecular aspects of plant-pathogen interactions that threaten global food security and the effect of plant biotechnology on the environment.
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| Content: | Topics include
- Biology and virulence mechanisms of major groups of plant pathogens such as bacterial, viral, fungal and oomycete pathogens.
- Molecular mechanisms and signalling processes involved in interactions between plants and pathogens.
- Diverse biotechnological approaches develop novel crop protection strategies.
- Molecular components of the multi-layered plant immune system and immune signalling.
- Disease control and management strategies to include, biological and chemical control, resistant host genotypes, and crop management practices.
- The definition of 'Plant Biotechnology', the categories included within the definition and their applications.
- GM technologies new and old, including issues with GM crops.
- Conventional agriculture and its environmental impact (the green revolution legacy).
- Agribusiness and intellectual property
Practical sessions will provide hands on experience in a variety of techniques involving infection of plants with diverse plant pathogens and observing disease progression, re-isolation and culturing plant pathogens from infected plants, real time observation of infection processes, and diverse disease resistance mechanisms.
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| Course availability: |
SL50203 is Optional (DEU) on the following courses:
Department of Life Sciences
- RSSL-AFM31 : Integrated PhD Biotechnology (Sustainable Biotechnologies)
- RSSL-AFM10 : Integrated PhD Molecular Biosciences (Microbiology)
- TSSL-AFM31 : MSc Biotechnology (Sustainable Biotechnologies)
- TSSL-AWM31 : MSc Biotechnology (Sustainable Biotechnologies)
- TSSL-AFM04 : MSc Molecular Biosciences (Microbiology)
- TSSL-AWM04 : MSc Molecular Biosciences (Microbiology)
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Notes: - This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2023/24 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2024/25 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2023/24.
- Courses and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
- Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
- Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.
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