Green Biotechnology

Learning Outcomes

This course provides advanced theoretical training in plant biotechnology. It integrates plant molecular biology, genomics, epigenetics, functional genomics and bioinformatics with emerging approaches such as genome editing, synthetic biology, and systems biology for applications for crop improvement and sustainable agriculture. In addition, regulatory frameworks, biosafety considerations, and ethical dimensions of plant biotechnology are critically examined.

Upon completion the students will be able to:

• Describe plant transformation techniques, including Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, biolistics, and emerging delivery systems (e.g., nanoparticles, protoplast-based methods) and select the appropriate molecular tools and transformation strategies for specific applications.
• Explain the principles, advantages, and limitations of transformation methods across different plant species.
• Explain genome editing technologies (e.g., CRISPR/Cas) and design plant transformation workflows.
• Describe core concepts of synthetic biology, including modular design, standardization, and gene circuit engineering in plants and apply basic synthetic biology design principles.
• Use bioinformatics tools to support gene discovery and circuit design.
• Evaluate and compare transformation efficiencies and expression outcomes in engineered plants and troubleshoot the assessment of the performance of engineered plants at molecular and phenotypic levels.
• Develop integrated plant engineering strategies combining transformation technologies, genome editing, and synthetic biology design.
• Explain how plants can be engineered as platforms (chassis) for the production of high-value compounds.
• Discuss strategies for engineering climate-resilient crops using integrated biotechnology and synthetic biology approaches.
• Identify biosafety, regulatory frameworks, and ethical considerations related to genetically engineered and synthetic organisms.
• Analyze and interpret genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenomic datasets for plant trait engineering.
• Critically evaluate scientific literature in plant biotechnology and synthetic biology.
• Assess environmental, ethical, and regulatory implications of genetically engineered and synthetic plants.
• Communicate complex concepts in plant biotechnology and synthetic biology to scientific and non-scientific audiences.
• Apply responsible research and innovation principles in the development of plant-based biotechnologies.

Module Syllabus

• Introduction to plant biotechnology and plant synthetic biology: From genes to engineered traits
• Plant biotechnology and functional genomics: Tools for gene discovery and trait analysis
• Epigenetics in plants: regulation and adaptation
• Plant transformation technologies: delivery methods and applications
• Genome editing in plants: CRISPR/Cas systems and synthetic biology integrationworkflows
• Design–Build–Test in plants: construct design and synthetic gene circuits
• Integrating genomics, epigenomics and synthetic biology approaches
• Plants as biofactories: Metabolic pathways and production of high-value compounds
• Engineering climate-resilient crops for sustainable agriculture and food security
• Biosafety, regulatory frameworks and ethics in plant biotechnology and plant synthetic biology

Suggested Bibliography

• Relevant literature per lecture, including scientific publications and reviews from international journals, which is available in the course e-class.
• Principles and techniques of Molecular Biology, 7th edition, Edited by Keith Wilson and John Walker, electronic source
• Laboratory techniques in plant biotechnology, electronic source