National University of Sciences and Technology
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PBT-902 Plant Functional Genomics
Campus ASAB
Programs PG
Session Fall Semester 2016
Course Title Plant Functional Genomics
Course Code PBT-902
Credit Hours 3
Pre-Requisutes None
Course Objectives
  • The course objective is to introduce the students to recent technical developments and their impact on the field of plant functional genomics.
  • The complete genome information from key species such as Arabidopsis thaliana and rice is now available and will further boost the application of a range of new technologies to functional plant gene analysis.
  • The course will focus mainly over  high-throughput analysis of differential gene expression is a powerful tool for discovering novel genes or for gaining additional information about certain biological processes on a genomic scale.
  • Such studies will provide plant biologists with increased knowledge about the regulation of agronomically important traits. 
Detail Content
  • How do we characterize plant genomes?
  • What model organisms we use and what role they play?
  • These are some of the questions that will be answered during this course.
  • Students will be taught and hands-on practical sessions will be conducted about different functional genomics techniques in plants such as making transgenic
  • Arabidopsis plants for the functional characterization of important genes, role of knockout plants and their availability from different databases.
  • The physiology and current research being conducted on different model organisms such as Arabidopsis thaliana and tobacco will be discussed in detail.
  • The students will also be briefed about how we can benefit commercial crops by researching on plant model organisms in labs.
  • To name a few, virus induced gene silencing in plants, protein sub-cellular localization, gene expression analysis under stressful conditions,
  • Characterization of Arabidopsis T-DNA knockout mutants will be taught along with other available plant functional genomics techniques.
Text/Ref Books
  • Methods in Molecular Biology Plant Functional Genomics Vol 236, by Erich Grotewold.
  • Functional Genomics by Chris Town
  • Plant Functional Genomics by Dario Leister-2004
Time Schedule
Faculty/Resource Person Assistant Professor - Dr Faiza Muneed (PhD)