Insect genetic engineering and applications
Theory: 2 hours/week | Tutorials: 1 hour/week | ECTS Units: 3
Content – Aim of the course
The course has been specifically designed for first-year students, and it aims to provide a concise, yet complete, presentation of the width of the modern biological science. Understanding life organisation in every single level, as well as the range of diversity, which, however, is based on common structures and functions, is of major priority. In this way the course presents not only the basic organisation of living systems but also the evolution, adaptation and interaction of living organisms in an environment under continuous change.
Analytical Description of the Course
The following subject areas will be covered:
- Transposable elements for insect transformation
- Sex-specific and tissue-specific transgene expression
- Docking systems for site-directed transgene integration
- Inducible systems for transgene expression
- Sterile Insect Techniqueand variations (SIT and RIDL)
- Gene drive systems
Evaluation
Student evaluation is based on:
- Lecture attendance (A)
- Active participation during lectures (L)
- In-class presentation of a specific topic (P)
- Written examination
Final degree (D) = 0,3×A + 0,2×L + 0,5×P
If D<5 written examination will be necessary.
If D>5 written examination could improve the final degree.
Reading Suggestions
- Recombinant DNA: Genes and Genomes – A short Course. Third Edition. Watson J.D., Caudy A.A., Myers R.M. and Witkowski J. Palgrave Macmillan Ltd 2007
- Transgenic Insects, Techniques and Applications. CABI Biotechnology Series. Edited by Mark Q. Benedict. ISBN-13: 978-1-78064-451-6.
- Related Scientific Journals:
- Annual Review of Entomology
- Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Insect Molecular Biology
- Current Opinion in Insect Science
Teaching Material / E-class
Lecturers
Konstantina Tsoumani (Course Coordinator)
