AGRICULTURAL GENETICS

Perspectives and importance of genetic improvement of agricultural species. An overview of the basic principles of inheritance and of Quantitative and Population Genetics. Plant reproductive systems and their control. Self-incompatibility and male-sterility. Genetic variation in natural and breeding populations. Basic genetic structure and methods for improving self-pollinated and cross-pollinated species. Inbreeding depression and heterosis. Genetic bases of selection. Selection for monogenic and quantitative trait loci (QTLs). Concept of heritability. Response to selection. Mutagenesis and polyploidy. Molecular breeding. Molecular markers based on DNA restriction and hybridization techniques and on PCR amplification. Genetic fingerprinting. QTL analysis and mapping. Association mapping and linkage disequilibrium. Marker-assisted selection (MAS). Genomics: an overview. Map position-based cloning of genes. Gene tagging. TILLING and ECOTILLING. Genetic and molecular biotechnologies supporting plant and animal breeding. Principles and techniques of plant cell and in vitro tissue cultures. Genetic engineering and recombinant DNA technologies. Transgenic varieties for the improvement of biotic and abiotic stresses and for increasing quality related traits. Molecular farming.