Study Programmes 2016-2017
WARNING : 2015-2016 version of the course specifications
VEGE0032-1  
Plant biotechnology
  • Molecular plant biotechnology
  • Exercise of plant biotechnology
  • Biology applied to pest prevention
  • Biology applied to phytopathology
Duration :
Molecular plant biotechnology : 12h Th, 6h Pr
Exercise of plant biotechnology : 18h Pr
Biology applied to pest prevention : 9h Th, 9h Pr
Biology applied to phytopathology : 4h Th, 14h Pr
Number of credits :
Master in agricultural bioengineering (120 ECTS)6
Lecturer :
Molecular plant biotechnology : Pierre Delaplace, Patrick du Jardin
Exercise of plant biotechnology : Pierre Delaplace
Biology applied to pest prevention : Frédéric Francis
Biology applied to phytopathology : Sébastien Massart
Coordinator :
Patrick du Jardin
Language(s) of instruction :
French language
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents :
Molecular plant biotechnology
  • Genetic modification of plants : methods, techniques and applications
  • New approaches for the targeted modification of genomes and their potential applications
  • Genomics : methods and techniques for studying the structure and the functions of the genomes of higher plants
  • Forward genetics - from phenotype to genotype - and reverse genetics - from genotype to phenotype- : advances due to molecular approaches
  • The use of model plants for the understanding of the physiology of crop plants
Exercise of plant biotechnology
This course aims at illustrating the plant biotechnology use in a realistic experimental context. To do so, several steps will be performed by the students in order to answer a scientific question presented at the beginning of the teaching process:
- selection of ad-hoc biotechnological tools; - experimental set-up development based on the state of the art; - experimental lab work; - data collection and analysis; - oral presentaton of the results.
This course is therefore based on a practical approach and the coordinated work of the group of students. It will provide the students with a clear insight of an experiment while inviting them to make decisions during each of these steps.
Biology applied to pest prevention
Application of « omics » approches in the plant-pest relations Biotechnological applications to control pests by using microbiological agents (entomopathogen bacteria, virus and fungi): theorical basis of action modes complemented by the production methods of these bio-insecticides
Application of transgenesis and diversity of GMO in order to control pests
Biology applied to phytopathology
To be completed
Learning outcomes of the learning unit :
Molecular plant biotechnology
  • To understand the achievable objectives of the genetic modification technology
  • To situate the GM tool in its current, developing and potential applications
  • To understand the stakes and perspectives related to new tools for the targeted genetic modification of plants
  • To see the point of using genomic tools to answer biological questions
  • To see the point of using high throughput sequencing and plant genome annotation
  • To distinguish forward and reverse genetics approaches
  • To comprehend the usefulness of model organisms
  • To understand the achievements and limits of studying genome expression at the transcriptomic and proteomic levels (while integrating technical and financial constraints and illustrating the use of statistical techniques suited for large datasets)
Exercise of plant biotechnology
- To use specific plant biotechnology tools to address a scientific question;
- To integrate a scientific approach into an experimental set-up;
- To design a laboratory experiment and carry it out;
- Coordonated team work;
- To analyze the obtained biological dataset;
- To transmit this information to the whole student class to ensure a thorough understanding of the results.
Biology applied to pest prevention
In order to control pests and to develop alternative ways to be more sustainable, it is proposed here to describe the diversity of organisms and approaches to be potentially applied using biotechnological strategies to a diversity of targetted pests.
Biology applied to phytopathology
to be completed
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
Molecular plant biotechnology
Basic courses of Genetics and Molecular Biology
Exercise of plant biotechnology
VEGE0032-A-a
Biology applied to phytopathology
Basic knowledge in molecular biology, genetics and plant pathology
 
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
Molecular plant biotechnology
  • Lectures ex cathedra
  • Reading of scientific papers and presentation to the class
Exercise of plant biotechnology
- Ex cathedra course : 2.5 h - Lab work : 11.5 h - Oral presentation (including preparation) : 4 h
Biology applied to pest prevention
Beside theorical teaching presenting the bases and action modes of the proposed biotechnological approaches, some pratical works are organised in order to apply "omics" techniques in the laboratory based on a scientific question raised on pests.
Biology applied to phytopathology
To be completed
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
Molecular plant biotechnology
face-to-face
Exercise of plant biotechnology
Face-to-face
Biology applied to pest prevention
Theorical teaching in auditorium Pratical works by group in the laboratory
Biology applied to phytopathology
Face-to-face
Recommended or required readings :
Molecular plant biotechnology
  • Folder of suggested readings communicated via the online platform of the course
  • Power point presentations of all lectures made available via the online platform
Exercise of plant biotechnology
slides, texts and papers available on line on Blackboard.
Assessment methods and criteria :
Molecular plant biotechnology
The assessment of the student is based only on the presentation of an individual work (article presentation).
Exercise of plant biotechnology
The assessment of the student is based only on the individual work performed during the teaching period.
Biology applied to pest prevention
Oral examination (65%) Report on practical works (35%)
Biology applied to phytopathology
To be completed
Work placement(s) :
Molecular plant biotechnology
All learning activities on the campus of Gembloux
Organizational remarks :
Molecular plant biotechnology
Expected cross-links with the other courses of the module.
Biology applied to pest prevention
Organisation of this course in a collegial module - including also the evaluation
Contacts :
Molecular plant biotechnology
  • Patrick du Jardin (patrick.dujardin@ulg.ac.be)
  • Pierre Delaplace (pierre.delaplace@ulg.ac.be)
Exercise of plant biotechnology
Dr Pierre Delaplace (pierre.delaplace@ulg.ac.be)
Biology applied to pest prevention
Frederic FRANCIS Professor Functional & evolutionary Entomology
Biology applied to phytopathology
Prof. Sebastien MASSART ULg, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech Bât. 47, avenue Maréchal Juin 5030 Gembloux
+32 81 622431 sebastien.massart@ulg.ac.be
Items online :
Molecular plant biotechnology
Course contents
All the pedagogical resources used in this course are downloadable from the corresponding folder on the online teaching platform eCampus.
Exercise of plant biotechnology
Course contents
All the pedagogical ressources used in this course are downloadable from the corresponding folder on the online teaching platform eCampus.