FORS 8040 - Current Topics in Forest Biotechnology

Fall 1999

Office Hours:     9:00 - 11:00 AM, T & Th
Class Meeting:   11:00 - 11:50 AM, T & Th
                          Forestry Rm 1-307

Readings: Published research papers, assigned weekly; photocopies provided by instructors; papers for a given lecture should be read before the lecture.


Grading: Grades will be based on:

1. One class presentation (20 -30 min) - 25%
2. Class participation - 25%
3. Final exam - 50%

WEEKLY TOPIC LIST

Week 1 (week of August 23)

August 24
Organizational meeting and assignment of readings for next meeting

August 26
Introduction - Perspective: Brief review of forest genetics and clonal propagation in the U.S. prior to the age of "biotechnology" (Merkle and Dean)

Week 2 (week of August 30)

August 31
Introduction, continued - Predictions: What is biotechnology and what can it do for forestry? (Merkle and Dean)

September 2
Woody plant tissue culture - history and introduction to axillary shoot multiplication and organogenesis (Merkle)

Week 3 (week of September 6)

September 7
Regeneration of woody plants via adventitious buds
Guest speaker: Dr. Harry Sommer, Warnell School of Forest Resources, UGA

September 9
Introduction to woody plant somatic embryogenesis (Merkle)

Week 4 (week of September 13)

September 14
Applications of hardwood tree somatic embryogenesis (Merkle)

September 16
Gene expression studies of conifer embryogenesis
Guest Speaker: Dr. John Cairney, Institute of Paper Science and Technology, Atlanta

Week 5 (week of September 20)

September 21
Introduction to genetic engineering of forest trees (Merkle)

September 23
Genetic engineering of pines
Guest speaker: Dr. Dale Smith, MetaGenetics, New Zealand

Week 6 (week of September 27)

September 28
The role of in vitro methods in pine plantation establishment: the lesson from New Zealand
Guest speaker: Dr. Dale Smith, MetaGenetics, New Zealand

September 30
Prospects for understanding and modifying lignin biosynthesis and deposition (Dean)

Week 7 (week of October 4)

October 5
Prospects for understanding and modifying lignin biosynthesis and deposition, continued (Dean)

October 7
Effect of a null mutation at the cad (cinnamyl alcohol-dehydrogenase) locus on lignin biosynthesis in loblolly-pine
Guest Speaker: Dr. John MacKay, Institute of Paper Science and Technology, Atlanta

Week 8 (week of October 11)

October 12
Using biotechnology to control forest pathogens
Guest Speaker: Dr. Sarah Covert, Warnell School of Forest Resources, UGA

October 14
Biotechnology as a tool to control forest pathogens, continued
Guest Speaker: Dr. Sarah Covert, Warnell School of Forest Resources, UGA

Week 9 (week of October 18)

October 19
Potential for biological control of tree insect pests via B.t. toxin genes
Guest speaker: Dr. Michael Adang, Entomology Department, UGA

October 21
Potential of forest trees for phytoremediation
Guest speaker: Dr. Richard Meagher, Genetics Department, UGA

Week 10 (week of October 25)

October 26
Biotechnology of secondary metabolites in forest trees (Dean)

October 28
Engineering controlled flowering in forest trees (Dean)

Week 11 (week of November 1)

November 2
The impact of genomics and bioinformatics on forestry (Dean)

November 4
Releasing genetically engineered organisms - technical issues (Merkle and Dean)

Week 12 (week of November 8)

November 9
Releasing genetically engineered organisms - regulatory and ethical issues (Merkle and Dean)

November 11
Application of DNA markers for selection and breeding of forest trees (Merkle and Dean)

Week 13 (week of November 15)

November 16
Application of DNA markers for selection and breeding of forest trees, continued (Merkle and Dean)

November 18
OPEN

Week 14 (week of November 22)

November 23
Another Genetically Engineered Natural Resource--Fish!
Guest speaker: Dr. Richard Wynn, Warnell School of Forest Resources, UGA

November 25
(UGA closed--no class)

Week 15 (week of November 29)

November 30
Student presentations

December 2
Student presentations

Week 16 (week of December 6)

December 7
Student presentations

December 9
Student presentations