Understanding Plant Genetics Course

Lesson 1 • Chloroplast and Mitochondrial Genomes

Introduces organellar DNA and its distinct inheritance patterns. Explains why cytoplasmic genomes matter for plant breeding outcomes.

Lesson 2 • The Plant Nucleus and Genome

Examines the nucleus as the primary genetic control center. Connects nuclear organization to gene expression and hereditary transmission.

Lesson 3 • Cell Division in Plants

Describes mitosis and meiosis as mechanisms for genetic continuity and variation. Links division types to vegetative growth and sexual reproduction.

Lesson 1 • Chromatin Packaging and Histones

Explains how DNA is compacted into nucleosomes and higher-order structures. Shows how packaging regulates gene accessibility in plant cells.

Lesson 2 • Gene Structure in Plants

Defines exons, introns, promoters, and regulatory elements specific to plant genes. Connects structural features to transcriptional control mechanisms.

Lesson 3 • Genome Size and Polyploidy

Compares genome sizes across plant species and explains polyploidization events. Establishes why polyploidy is a major driver of plant diversity.

Lesson 4 • DNA Double Helix and Nucleotides

Covers nucleotide chemistry, base pairing, and the antiparallel strand orientation. Grounds all subsequent gene-expression concepts in molecular structure.

Lesson 1 • Post-Translational Modifications

Surveys phosphorylation, glycosylation, and ubiquitination in plant proteins. Explains how modifications regulate protein activity and localization.

Lesson 2 • Regulation of Gene Expression

Integrates transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and translational control layers. Prepares students to understand how plants modulate gene output in response to stimuli.

Lesson 3 • Pre-mRNA Processing and Splicing

Covers 5' capping, polyadenylation, and spliceosome-mediated intron removal. Shows how processing expands protein diversity through alternative splicing.

Lesson 4 • Transcription and RNA Polymerases

Details the initiation, elongation, and termination of plant mRNA synthesis. Connects RNA polymerase types to specific gene classes.

Lesson 1 • Epistasis and Gene Interaction

Analyzes how one gene masks or modifies another gene's expression. Explains modified ratios observed in plant coat color and flower pigmentation.

Lesson 2 • Cytoplasmic and Maternal Inheritance

Covers organellar and maternal-effect genes that deviate from nuclear inheritance. Links these patterns to cytoplasmic male sterility in crop breeding.

Lesson 3 • Mendel's Laws and Monohybrid Crosses

Reviews segregation and dominance using plant examples. Establishes the probability framework used throughout quantitative genetics.

Lesson 4 • Dihybrid Crosses and Independent Assortment

Extends analysis to two-gene interactions and the 9:3:3:1 ratio. Introduces the concept of genetic independence as a baseline for linkage studies.

Lesson 1 • Genetic Linkage and Crossing Over

Explains why linked genes deviate from independent assortment. Introduces crossing over as the physical basis of recombination.

Lesson 2 • Quantitative Trait Loci Analysis

Introduces QTL detection methods for complex traits in plants. Links QTL intervals to candidate genes and breeding value estimation.

Lesson 3 • Molecular Markers for Mapping

Surveys SSR, SNP, and RFLP markers used in plant linkage mapping. Connects marker types to their resolution and throughput in mapping populations.

Lesson 4 • Two-Point and Three-Point Crosses

Teaches map distance estimation from two- and three-locus cross data. Demonstrates how gene order is determined from recombination class frequencies.

Lesson 1 • Small RNA Pathways in Plants

Distinguishes miRNA, siRNA, and tasiRNA biogenesis and function. Shows how small RNAs coordinate development and stress responses.

Lesson 2 • Epigenetic Inheritance and Epialleles

Examines how epigenetic states are transmitted across generations in plants. Discusses epiallele stability and its implications for crop improvement.

Lesson 3 • Histone Modifications and Chromatin State

Surveys acetylation, methylation, and ubiquitination of histone tails. Connects modification patterns to active, repressed, and bivalent chromatin states.

Lesson 4 • Genomic Imprinting in Plants

Explains parent-of-origin gene expression in endosperm and embryo. Connects imprinting to seed development and hybrid vigor.

Lesson 1 • Transcriptomics and RNA-Seq Analysis

Teaches RNA-seq experimental design, alignment, and differential expression analysis. Links transcriptomic data to gene function and regulatory networks.

Lesson 2 • Comparative and Pan-Genomics

Introduces synteny analysis and pan-genome construction across plant species. Reveals conserved gene blocks and species-specific gene content.

Lesson 3 • Genome Assembly and Annotation

Covers de novo assembly strategies and gene prediction pipelines for plants. Connects assembly quality metrics to downstream analysis reliability.

Lesson 4 • Next-Generation Sequencing Platforms

Compares short-read and long-read sequencing chemistries and their trade-offs. Guides platform selection for different plant genomics applications.

Lesson 1 • CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing in Plants

Details guide RNA design, Cas9 delivery, and editing outcome verification. Addresses off-target analysis and strategies to minimize unintended edits.

Lesson 2 • Biolistic and Alternative Delivery Methods

Covers particle bombardment and protoplast-based delivery for recalcitrant species. Compares delivery methods by efficiency, species range, and integration pattern.

Lesson 3 • Base Editing and Prime Editing

Introduces precision editing tools that install specific nucleotide changes without double-strand breaks. Evaluates their advantages for crop trait improvement.

Lesson 4 • Agrobacterium-Mediated Transformation

Explains T-DNA transfer biology and binary vector design for plant transformation. Connects transformation efficiency to tissue culture and selection protocols.