Teaching

Undergraduate Courses:

BIOL2000: Cell Biology

BIOL2001: Cell Biology Laboritory

GENE3000: An Introduction to Molecular Genetics

GENE4003: Biotechnology

Graduate Courses:

AGRI5750: Biotechnology

AGRI5710: I. Fluorescent and Luminescent Marker Genes for Applications in Agriculture and Life Sciences

This module provides an overview on the theories and applications of fluorescence and luminescence in agriculture and life sciences. The module will introduce the powerful tools of fluorescent and luminescent reporter genes for studying spatial and temporal gene expression and regulation, energy transfer, protein localization, protein folding and function. Experiments involved in the module will be focused on gene detection, promoter activation, fluorescent microscopy and low-light imaging analysis techniques. The module is suitable for graduate students who are involved in research using bacteria, plants and mammalian model systems. Literature review and final presentations are required fo the course.

AGRI5710: II. Advanced Techniques in Molecular Biology and Genomics

This module provides an overview of advanced techniques currently used in molecular biology and genomics research. Besides the traditional molecular biology techniques, the module will introduce the latest developments in genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and bioinformatics. The module is suitable for graduate students who are interested in learning the concepts and involved in the graduate projects in the subject matters. The module will start with a background introduction, followed by literature review and a series of student presentations. The final report will focus on writing a science fiction. Students who register for the module require basic background in cell biology, biochemistry and molecular biology.

AGRI5710: III Understanding Genetic and Environmental Controls of a Trait

A trait is a genetically determined characteristic or condition. It is often affected by environmental conditions. This module course will use an agriculturally important crop potato as an example to demonstrate ways to investigate the factors controlling a trait using the principles of agronomy, physiology, biochemistry, genetics, breeding, genomics and molecular biology. The course will also demonstrate how the theory and experimental methods can be used for the analyses. A major literature review and a final scientific report are required.