CPSC30090 Crop Breeding

Academic Year 2019/2020

Breeding is central to anyone who works with plants as most cultivated plants have been impacted using breeding approaches. This course will examine concepts relevant to a broad range of students interested in genetics, crop sciences, plant pathology, plant physiology and entomology. The course content will present a broad range of information of a wide range of crops, including both agronomic and horticultural crop species. The aim of this course is to provide a base understanding of the genetics principles applied to crop improvement.

A. To develop general familiarity with the overall science of plant breeding on the improvement of crops.
B. Understand the genetic concepts behind plant breeding.
C. To become familiar with the concepts that make crop breeding a key factor to increase the world´s food supply.
D. Describe the main differences among self and cross-pollinated crops, fruits and vegetables.
E. Explain the uses of phenotypic, genotypic and genomic selection techniques.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

Students will develop skills and knowledge on the following outcomes.

1. To understand classical genetics.
2. To explain the different sources of genetic variation.
3. To classify the biology of plant reproductive systems.
4. To describe the different plant breeding methods schemes.5. To identify the key steps in a plant breeding program.


Indicative Module Content:

- Centers of Domestication/ Vavilov center of origin
- Population genetics/Hardy-Weinberg
- Qualitative vs Quantitative traits. Heritability.
- Breeder´s equation/Inbreeding/Heterosis/Combining ability
- Types of Selection
- Breeding systems – self and cross- pollinated.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Conversation Class

30
Autonomous Student Learning

46
Total

100
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
On the syllabus of the module, there is a section to highlight the range of student abilities, the levels of student engagement and clarity of student understanding about the outcomes and content of the module.
We teach by reinforcing interactions between instructors and student and highlight the complexity of the assessment tasks. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

Course in GeneticsCourse in Plant Sciences, Crops or Horticulture.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Essay: Several assessment strategies, with MCQ, True and False and also written essays. Week 12 n/a Graded No

50
Examination: Several assessment strategies, with MCQ, True and False and also written essays. Week 5 No Graded No

20
Group Project: In Piazza, several questions during the module will be posted. Students will have to write a report with the answers by a group of 3-5 depending on the size of the class. Week 9 n/a Graded No

20
Continuous Assessment: We use Piazza as a tool for continuous assessment. Varies over the Trimester n/a Graded No

10

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Self-assessment activities

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