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METHODS & APPLICATIONS OF PLANT CELL & TISSUECULTURE (HOS 6373C)Spring, 2013, 3 credits

COURSE INSTRUCTOR: GLORIA MOORE1111 Fifield Hall, 273-4786, gamoore@ufl.edu

TEACHING ASSISTANT: KIMBERLY NIBLETT, KNiblett.ufl.eduhttp://www.hos.ufl.edu/mooreweb/

COURSE OBJECTIVES:This course is targeted to plant scientists who may wish to use tissue culture and/orproduce transgenic plants at some point in their research careers, but do notnecessarily want to become experts in this area. These could be scientists whose workis usually more applied, e.g. plant breeders, or researchers whose work is usually morebasic, e.g. molecular biologists. Thus, specific objects include:

1. To convey the concepts of plant tissue culture and transformation in lectures.

2. To provide hands-on experience of the most common of these techniques in labsand demonstrations of more advanced or uncommon techniques.

3. To demonstrate how to initiate and perform this kind of research with a crop ofchoice.

4. In conjunction with these activities, to reinforce concepts of scientific thinking,planning and analysis of experiments, record keeping, literature reading, and

presentation of results.

5. An examination of current genetic transformation practices in the industry; and theirimplications for farmers and consumers.

CONTENTS AND ORGANIZATION:

Lectures: will be held in Fifield Hall classroom 2318 on Thursday at 4th period (10:40-11:30 AM).Laboratory: Labs will be held in 1135 Fifield Hall on Thursday, periods 6 8 (12:50

3:50). Most labs will not take this much time.

Since grading will be based in large part on lab notebooks and discussions andexperiments done during class time, attendance at all lectures and labs isrequired. If you are not present, you cannot accomplish the required activities.One missed day will be forgiven, if there is a good excuse. Each additional misswill result in an automatic reduction of your grade of 5 points.

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GRADING:There will be no formal exams in this course, because I do not think it is necessary tomemorize and regurgitate this material. Grading will be based on detailed notebooks,which will collect records of experiments and answers to questions that will be provided(see below) (75%), a project due at the end of class (15%) and classroom participation

(10%). Final grades will be based upon the sum of these scores: 90-100 points = A; 85-89 points = B+; 80-84 points = B;

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system allows one to rearrange notes by experiment in a separate notebook, andalso to keep a copy of the data in a separate place to guard against loss.

The first page of both notebooks should be reserved for an Index. Since you will

only be carrying out only a few experiments in the course, one page will do. All

subsequent pages are numbered. Your index entries should indicate, in a line ortwo, the experiment and where it is located in the book (i.e., the page number). Entera title for each experiment, not just "Experiment 1, Page 1".

Record in your notebook everything that you do and observe as you carry out the

experiment. The goal is to record sufficient information to trace mistakes or foranother person to repeat the work exactly as you have done it.

It is not necessary to write everything that is on the protocols handed out, although

these can be included, but any deviations should be recorded. Write in the pasttense, not necessarily with complete sentences as long as there is no ambiguity.Fasten into your book any data, e.g. spectrophotometer readings, obtained duringthe course of the experiment. Use ink, and cross out any errors. Never erase!

Finally, most entries in your notebook should be written in as the experiment

proceeds. You can spend a bit of time before the lab filling in some of the initialdetails (while you are reading over the experiment the night before, for example), butall details of the experiments and data collected should be recorded while in the lab.It is permissible to analyze data after you have left the lab. Also, there may bequestions on the lab protocol sheets that are designed to guide your thinking aboutthe experiment. You should answer these questions and write conclusions where itis applicable.

In all your decisions about what to put into your lab notebook, remember thisguiding rule:Your notebook should be a complete, stand-alone record of the experiment and itsresults. Anyone with at least your background in plant science should be able to go intothe lab with nothing but your notebook to guide them, carry out the sameexperiment, and compare their data, calculations, analysis, and final results with yours.

Second NotebookHere is where experiments should be written completely, with discussion, analysis,conclusions, and answers to questions, all organized by experiment. After the class isover, this will also be a place to maintain class notes and handouts.

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PROJECT

I am assuming that each of you has some interest in tissue culture and/ortransformation since you are taking this course. Each of you will do aproject during the semester that we have agreed is mutually acceptable to

both of us. This can be as simple as simple as a short proposal to usetissue culture with your plant of interest.

INFORMATION SOURCES:

Readings: No textbook has been designated as required. Detailed handouts, culledfrom a number of sources, on each subject discussed will be made available, principallyon the web site.

INSTRUCTOR OFFICE HOURS:I will be available for consultation and discussions on Thursday during lab periods or byappointment at other times.

OFFICIAL UNIVERSITY STATEMENTS

Academic Honesty: The University of Florida requires all members of its community tobe honest in all endeavors. Cheating, plagiarism, and other acts diminish the process oflearning. When students enroll at UF they commit themselves to honesty and integrity.Your instructor fully expects you to adhere to the academic honesty guidelines you

signed when you were admitted to UF. As a result of completing the registration form atthe University of Florida, every student has signed the following statement: Iunderstand the University of Florida expects it students to be honest in all theiracademic work. I agree to adhere to this commitment to academic honesty andunderstand that my failure to comply with this commitment may result in disciplinaryaction up to and including expulsion from the University. Furthermore, on worksubmitted for credit by UF students, the following pledge is either required or implied:On my honor, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid in doing thisassignment. It is to be assumed all work will be completed independently unless theassignment is clearly defined as group project, either verbally or in writing by theprofessor. This policy will be vigorously upheld at all times in this course.

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Software Use: All faculty, staff, and students of the University are required andexpected to obey the laws and legal agreements governing software use. Failure to doso can lead to monetary damages and/or criminal penalties for the individual violator.Because such violations are also against University policies and rules, disciplinaryaction will be taken as appropriate.

UF Counseling Services: Students experiencing crisis or personal problems thatinterfere with their general wellbeing are encouraged to utilize the universityscounseling resources. Both the Counseling Center and Student Mental Health provideconfidential counseling services at no cost for currently enrolled students. Resourcesare available on campus for students having personal or lacking clear career andacademic goals, which interfere with their academic performance. The CounselingCenter is located at 301 Peabody Hall (next to Criser Hall). Student Mental Health islocated on the second floor of the Student Health Services in the Infirmary.

1. University Counseling Center, 301 Peabody Hall, 392-1575; personal and career

counseling: www.counsel.ufl.edu2. Student Mental Health, Student Health Care Center, 392-1171, personal counseling:http://www.shcc.ufl.edu/smhs/3. Sexual Assault Recovery Services (SARS), Student Health Care Center, 392-1161,sexual assault counseling4. Career Resource Center, Reitz Union, 392-1601, career development

Services for Students with Disabilities: The Dean of Students Office coordinates theneeded accommodations of students with disabilities. This includes the registration ofdisabilities, academic accommodations within the classroom, accessing specialadaptive computer equipment, providing interpretation services, and mediating faulty-

student disability related issues. Dean of Students Office, 202 Peabody Hall, 392-7066,www.dso.ufl.edu

http://www.counsel.ufl.edu/http://www.shcc.ufl.edu/smhs/http://www.dso.ufl.edu/http://www.shcc.ufl.edu/smhs/http://www.dso.ufl.edu/http://www.counsel.ufl.edu/