ObjectivesPlant biotechnology, genome research and plant breeding underpin all aspects of agriculture and horticulture and, reflecting this, the MSc in Plant Genetic Manipulation will provide you with the specialist knowledge and advanced practical, transferable skills of plant genetic manipulation and associated biotechnologies. The programme also aims, through off-site visits, to widen awareness of the latest developments in, and requirements of, modern agro-industry as related to the exploitation of these technologies for a wide range of commercially important crops and horticultural plants. You will undertake interrelated taught lecture and practical modules, a dissertation and a laboratory-based research project, the latter focused to meet your individual interests, personal development and career plans.
Entry requirementsThe course is targeted at both UK / EU and international students who wish to proceed to higher degree (PhD) studies or establish careers in academic and/or research institutes or agro-industry.
Academic titleMSc Plant Genetic Manipulation
Course descriptionPlant Genetic Manipulation (MSc)
Duration: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time
Course Content
The MSc in Plant Genetic Manipulation consists of 11 modules (including a dissertation / research project). These modules are listed below:
Plant Genetic Manipulation – Practical Techniques
Tissue Culture – Sexual and Somatic Genetics for Plant Improvement
Research Project 1
Dissertation 1 and 2
Plant Cell Signalling
Fundamental and Applied Aspects of Plant Genetic Manipulation
Plant Biotechnology
Genomics
Sex, Flowers and Biotechnology
Please note that all module details are subject to change.
Over the summer period towards the end of the course, you will undertake a 60-credit research project module, which consists of the completion and write-up of project laboratory work.
Recent research projects carried out by students have included topics such as:
Introduction of disease resistance into ornamentals and cereals
Increased shelf-life for vegetable crops
Dwarfing of species for commercial improvement
Chloroplast transformation
Tissue culture and secondary products
Micropropogation and cryopreservation
Genetic mapping / positional cloning of male sterility genes in Arabidopsis
Functional analysis of genes impacting on plant tolerance to toxic minerals
Studies on the molecular basis of self-incompatability
Training is also provided in Information Technology.
During this course, off-site visits and tuition at Research Institutes and within industry will foster your awareness of current plant research in the agricultural and agro-industry sectors.
Course Structure
The MSc in Plant Genetic Manipulation is delivered on a full-time basis over one year or part-time over two years.
The course comprises 180 credits, split across 120 credits’ worth of taught modules and a 60-credit research project completed towards the end of the course.
Assessment methods vary across the modules but typically consist of a combination of:
Written examinations at the end of the appropriate semester associated with the lecture-based modules
Formal coursework assignments associated with the lecture modules
Research project
A viva voce examination
Key facts
This course is hosted by the internationally acclaimed Plant Sciences Division, which is one of the largest communities of plant scientists in the UK.
The School of Biosciences is one of the largest and strongest Schools of its kind in the UK.
It has consistently achieved high ratings in independent UK assessments of both research and teaching quality, receiving an RAE grade of 5A and 23/24 in the latest Teaching Quality Assessment.
The Sutton Bonington Campus is a self-contained, 16-hectare site in the beautiful countryside of South Nottinghamshire and it offers a number of dedicated facilities applicable to this course