Course Name

Course Number

Description

Link

Forest Genetics

FOR6310

In Forest Genetics I teach the fundamental principles of population and quantitative genetics theory, which is essential for graduate students to carry out research in tree improvement, physiology, ecology and other forestry areas where heritable (genetic) variation is observed and studied. Concepts that are covered include gene and genome structure and function, transmittal of genetic material, origin and measurement of genetic variation, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, multiple loci and genetic linkage, quantitative genetic models, heritability, random genetic drift and inbreeding, population structure and natural and artificial selection.
In the second part of the semester, the application of these fundamental principles is demonstrated in the context of traditional and molecular breeding programs, and gene conservation. Examples focus on forest tree species, including applications of the theory to quantify genetic diversity and evolution of natural populations, and selection in breeding programs.

The Forest Genetics course follows a lecture/discussion format, typically in a 2:1 ratio. Each week a new topic is covered during a two-hour lecture where the theory is described. Prior to the lecture, the students are given a scientific journal article which relates to the week’s topic, which is discussed in the last lecture of the week. Article discussions are carried out by randomly selecting students responsible for each section of the paper in the beginning of the discussion class. FOR6310 is taught in the Fall of odd years.

 

Genomic Sciences and Bioinformatics

GMS 6181

Genomics Sciences and Bioinformatics is a graduate course offered temporarily through the College of Medicine/Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology. The course is required for graduate students of the recently created graduate program in Genetics.
The course in Genomics and Bioinformatics introduces students to the principles of genomic characterization and bioinformatics analysis of eukaryotes. It includes an overview of analytical platforms, computational tools, experimental design, analysis methods and databases used to study DNA sequence, gene expression and protein levels. The course is divided into five sections: DNA and genome sequencing, DNA sequence variation, transcriptome analysis, proteome analysis and integrative genomics. I am the course director, and also responsible for teaching the first and last section of the course (40%). The other three sections are taught by faculty from the College of Medicine (Dr. Alberto Riva and Dr. Lauren McIntyre) and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (Dr. Sixue Chen). As the course director, I am also responsible for administrative duties involved in the course organization.
GMS6181 is broad in scope, and has been developed to respond to a growing demand by researchers in academia and industry for graduated professionals that have a broad understanding of the various fields of genomics. This field has progressed in a very rapid pace in the past decade – the main challenge is to teach the students about the latest technology, but also keep up-to-date about revolutionary methods that are not yet available to the general public. GMS6181 is offered in the Spring of every year.

 

  

Forests for the Future

FOR 2662

In the course Forests for the Future, students study the interaction of society with forests. This course is offered every semester, and focuses on current important issues in forestry, and how they define the decisions made by individuals, communities and institutions about the use of forest resources. Each issue is analyzed using three fundamental concepts as the framework that are (1) human perceptions and values of forests, (2) functions of forest ecosystems, and (3) management and use of forests. Topics that are discussed in each semester range from clearcutting, prescribed fire, water resources, forest technology and tropical forestry.
My responsibility is to lead the discussions related to forest technology during the Spring semesters. More specifically, students learn about the principles of use of biotechnologies, including genetic transformation, in a forestry context. Next they are exposed to various points of view that are positive, neutral or negative about the use of this technology. This information provides the bases for the class discussions that ensue. The students are expected to understand key issues discussed and analyze the major social and ecological variables affecting each issue.

  

Journal Colloquium

PCB 7299

This is a seminar course for graduate students in plant sciences, where the primary literature about selected topic areas is discussed. PMCB students are required to attend one Journal Colloquium each semester, but the meetings also include the participation of graduate students from other majors. I organize the meetings around new discoveries in the genomic sciences. I offer the Journal Colloquium in the Fall of every year. Because of the large number of plant genome sequences that have and are becoming available since 2001, the year’s Journal Colloquium topic in the next few years will focus on plant genome structure and organization, as well as comparative genomics.