This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.

Undergraduate Handbook 2024-2025 (archived)

Module BIOL3611: CROPS FOR THE FUTURE

Department: Biosciences

BIOL3611: CROPS FOR THE FUTURE

Type	Level	Credits	Availability	Module Cap	Location
Open	3	20	Available in 2024/2025		Durham

Pre-requisites

Level 2 Molecular Biology (BIOL2441) OR Level 2 Plant and Algal Physiology (BIOL2571)

Corequisites

At least one other Level 3 Biological Sciences Module selected from the following list: Advanced Topics in Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour BIOL3561, Conservation Biology BIOL3551, Ecology in the Anthropocine BIOL3541, Advanced Topics in Development BIOL3521, Stress and Responses to the Environment BIOL3491, Biochemistry and Biotechnology BIOL3601, Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering BIOL3531, Ageing BIOL3591, Advanced Cell Biology BIOL3481, Biology of Disease BIOL3621, Genomics BIOL3651.

Excluded Combinations

None

Aims

To present an overview of current research into improving plant productivity in agriculture, based on a historical perspective of crop selection and breeding.
To explore the bases of factors determining crop performance in the field.
To review modern technologies for crop improvement.

Content

The origins of agriculture; plant selection and breeding.
Crop improvement technologies; molecular plant breeding and plant genetic engineering.
Plant productivity and yield limitations.
Crop protection; biotic and abiotic stresses.
Reprogramming plant processes; metabolic engineering.
New technologies, sustainable agriculture and global food shortages.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge

Knowledge of molecular techniques used in plant breeding.
Advanced knowledge of plant biochemistry in relation to production of primary and secondary metabolites, in relation to production of food, fuels and high value products such as pharmaceuticals.
Advanced knowledge of plant genetic engineering and its practical applications.
Knowledge of the ways in which new technologies are being deployed in world agriculture.

Subject-specific Skills

To be able to interpret and analyse data from plant breeding and plant transformation experiments.
To be able to analyse experimental schemes for altering plant phenotype by making specific changes to the genome.
To be able to integrate information from different sources to form a balanced view of the use of new technologies in agriculture.

Key Skills

Literacy, in being able to consult and extract information from printed and on-line archives.
Data analysis, in interpretation and critical analysis of data relevant to crop improvement.
Self-motivation, in self-guided learning.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

Lectures deliver subject-specific knowledge.
Workshops support the development of key and subject-specific skills.
Self-guided learning contributes to subject-specific knowledge and self-motivation.
Reports / Data Handling Exercises are based on subject-specific knowledge.
Unseen examinations demonstrate achievement of the appropriate level of subject-specific knowledge of development, with an emphasis on understanding and communication (essay and problem-based questions).

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total Hours	Attendance Monitored
Lectures	24	Weekly	2 hours p/w	24
Workshops	2	Termly	1 hour	2	Yes
Preparation & Reading				174
Total				200

Summative Assessment

Component	Component Weighting	Element	Length/Duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Examination	100%	Unseen formal examination	2 hours	100%	No

Formative Assessment

2 formative examination exercises of 1 hr each.

Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University.