Undergraduate Course: Plant Biotechnology (PLSC10023)

Course Outline
School	School of Biological Sciences	College	College of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)	SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate)	Availability	Not available to visiting students
SCQF Credits	10	ECTS Credits	5
Summary	This course will focus on plants in exploring the fundamental constraints and opportunities in sustainable food and bioenergy production, as well as the use of plants to supply high-value products.
Course description	The planet's population is predicted to peak at over 9 billion in the second half of this century. To provide food and dignified living conditions, agricultural productivity will have to increase 50% by 2030 and 70% by 2050. This task is extremely urgent and challenging, as it will have to coincide with a transition to more sustainable agricultural practices and as agricultural land is lost due to climate change and urbanisation. Topics to be covered: Modern food production; Ten thousand years of crop domestication; Soils underpin fertility and sustainability; Agricultural practice; Plant breeding; Herbicide tolerance; Plant defence; Abiotic stress resistance; Sustainable energy and C-skeleton cycles; Exploitation of plants for cellulosic-, and of algae for hydrocarbon-based fuels; Chemical feed stocks; plants and plant cells as factories for high value products; natural products.

Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites		Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations		Other requirements	None

Course Delivery Information

Academic year 2025/26, Not available to visiting students (SS1)		Quota: 0
Course Start	Semester 1
Timetable	Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info)	Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 26, Summative Assessment Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 70 )
Assessment (Further Info)	Written Exam 100 %, Coursework 0 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment)	This course is assessed only by an end of semester exam involving short essay questions.
Feedback	Not entered
Exam Information
Exam Diet	Paper Name		Minutes
Main Exam Diet S1 (December)	Plant Biotechnology Exam		120

Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to: Demonstrate advanced knowledge of constraints on, and opportunities for improved agricultural practice and food production, conventional and GM plant breeding. Demonstrate advanced knowledge of the methods employed in modern agriculture. Produce and critique rational strategies for achieving sustainable, high-yield agriculture. Demonstrate the ability to engage with social issues that arise from the use of the latest agricultural technologies. Research relevant scientific literature to create written and oral presentations that are concise, coherent and cogen. Show in-depth knowledge of the plant biotechnology field and produce a logical, considered and integrated strategy for a solution to specific plant biotechnological problems.