Biotechnology and Genomic for Industry and Environment

General skills The course aims to provide advanced knowledge on the methodological approaches used for the improvement of plant and algae crops, aimed at the development of new varieties or strains to be used for the sustainable production of biofuels and value-added products for the industry, for sustainable crop protection against stresses and biomonitoring. Specific skills A) Knowledge and understanding To acquire detailed knowledge of: - types and use of waste plant biomasses of agroforestry origin and dedicated crops for the production of biofuels and other products of industrial interest; - traits of crops that affect the efficiency of use of the biomass derived from them, with particular attention to the composition of the cell wall; - advanced methodologies for the study of the plant cell wall; - conventional and advanced methods of genetic improvement of plant crops; - characteristics and methods of analysis of nuclear and plastid genomes of plants and microalgae; - methods of transferring genetic information from model species to species of agro-industrial interest; - methods of integrating genomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics data for the identification of genes that influence the exploitation of plant biomass and algal and the response to biotic and abiotic environmental stresses. - biological characteristics and cultivation methods of microalgae; - approaches used to identify algae strains with characteristics useful for industry and the environment; - applications of microalgae for the production of biodiesel and products for industrial use; - methods of genetic improvement of microalgae (mutagenesis and selection, genetic transformation and genome editing); - sustainable strategies for the defense of plants against abiotic and biotic stresses; - biomonitoring of pollution through biosensors; B) Applying knowledge and understanding - design of experiments aimed at developing new plant varieties or microalgal strains with improved characteristics for their industrial and environmental exploitation; - design of a genetic screening in microalgae and outline of the main ways of identifying mutations; - understand and critically discuss the different approaches used to improve the efficiency of use of plant biomass through genetic and biotechnological methods. C) Making judgements - Critical judgment skills, through the study of reviews and scientific articles on key aspects of the field and in-depth discussions - Ability to evaluate the correctness and scientific rigor in the topics related to the topics covered by the course. D) Communication skills - Acquisition of adequate skills and useful tools for communication in Italian and in foreign languages (English), using graphic and formal languages, with regard to the scientific language. E) Learning skills - ability to interpret and deepen knowledge; - ability to use cognitive tools for continuous updating of knowledge; - ability to compare for the consolidation and improvement of knowledge.