The course will cover biotechnological methods and laboratory skills essential for implementing genome editing and genetic transformation in plant breeding. It begins with basics like tissue culture, explants, and media preparation, then moves on to crop transformation using Agrobacterium, protoplast isolation, and bioballistic transformation. It also discusses guide RNA design for genome editing, types of editing, and delivery methods for CRISPR/Cas9 constructs. Examples from monocot and dicot plants will illustrate vector design, cloning strategies, and marker genes.

Term 2, November-December

Instructor:
Prof. Elena Potokina

The course will focus on the biotechnological methods and laboratory skills required for successful implementation of modern genome editing and genetic transformation technologies into plant breeding. The training module will begin with an introduction the basics of in vitro plant manipulation in aseptic conditions, e.g. tissue culture, explants, callus types, composition and preparation of media, conditions for successful regeneration, necessary equipment. Then, the course provides theoretical knowledge and practical training in the field of crop transformation using Agrobacterium, isolation of plant protoplasts for transient expression of foreign genetic material, bioballistic transformation of calli and immature embryos. The principles of guide RNA design for genome editing will be discussed, as well as types of editing (nucleases, base editors, Prime editors), methods for delivering a CRISPR/Cas9 construct to plant tissues. With the example of monocot and dicot plant species, protocols of vectors design for particle gun and Agrobacterium, main cloning strategies, selectable markers, marker genes (GFP, GUS) will be demonstrated.