HOST-PARASITE GENETICS MODULE
PLANT
PATHOLOGY 5102/8102
FALL
SEMESTER 2004
Instructor: Brian
J. Steffenson
Office:
310 Stakman Hall
Phone: (612) 625-4735
E-mail: bsteffen@umn.edu
Office
hours: 10:45-11:45 AM Monday and Wednesday and by
appointment
Lectures:
9:30-10:45 AM on Monday and Wednesday in 365 Borlaug Hall
Discussion:
1:00-2:15 on Wednesday
in 491 Borlaug Hall
Course
web site: http://plpa.coafes.umn.edu/~bsteff/teaching5102.html
Credits: Three (3.0)
Course
objectives: My goal is to provide information on the
basic genetic fundamentals of host-parasite interactions. In this course, we will examine Mendelian,
populational, and molecular genetic aspects of host-parasite interactions. Pertinent examples will be given on the
genetics of individual hosts and parasites.
Additionally, practical information will be presented to aid students in
studying host-parasite systems and developing disease control strategies using
genetic resistance.
Prerequisites:
Students must have a thorough understanding of the basic concepts of
plant disease, mycology, genetics, and epidemiology.
Text:
None required. Reference
materials and assigned papers are required reading and are placed on electronic
reserve or in the Plant Pathology library.
To access the electronic reserve, go to http://reserve.lib.umn.edu/cgi-bin/eres/;
then click on “View Courses and Documents;” type in your x500 number/password
and click on “Submit”; next click either “Department Name,” “Instructor’s Last
Name,” or “Search” to navigate to the course reserve list of “PlPa5102
STEFFENSON Epidemiology and Host-Parasite Genetics.” Click on this text and you will then be asked to provide a
password. The password is marave7. Click “Accept” at the bottom to open the electronic reserve list
for the course. The articles are saved
as PDF files and are organized in alphabetical order by the senior author’s last
name. In some cases, a single article
is divided into several smaller PDF files to hasten download time. You may elect to save a tree by not printing
the article and reading it on the computer.
Course requirements:
One mid-term exam is tentatively scheduled for November 17. The final
examination is scheduled for December 20
from 10:30-12:30 AM.
In addition to these exams, students will
be required to write an abbreviated grant proposal on a topic dealing
with any aspect of host-parasite genetics
as per the general guidelines of Section 51.8: Biology of Plant-Microbe
Associations from the USDA National Research Initiative Competitive Grants
Program (USDA-NRICGP). This proposal is
to be written using the exact format
and guidelines of the USDA-NRICGP.
For essential information, go to the
following websites:
The funding opportunities section of
CSREES-NRI Competitive Grants Program is at:
http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/nri/nri.html
For a complete description of the grant
proposal sections, click on “NRI Request for Proposals.” Here you can download text or PDF versions
of the proposal guidelines. Within this
document, see pages 55-57 for information about Section 51.8: Biology of
Plant-Microbe Associations. Pages 72—79 contain a detailed description on how
to write each section of the grant.
Make absolutely
sure that you follow the exact
directions for each section of the grant proposal. For example, in the Rationale and Significance section, you must
demonstrate how your objectives will help contribute to the potential
long-range improvement in and sustainability of U.S. (or world agriculture) or
to one or more of the research objectives described under Applicable Regulations
in the NRI (see Part I, B. Purpose, Priorities and
Fund Availability on pages 7-8).
For proposal application forms, click on http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/forms.html
From this website, you will download and
complete the following: 1) the proposal cover page (page 3 of forms document),
2) the proposal abstract (page 5), and 3) the proposal budget (page 6).
Your complete
grant proposal document will include in this order:
1) Proposal Cover Page (1 page: Form CSREES-2002 from forms
website)
2)
Table of Contents (1 page)
3)
Project Summary (1 page: Form CSREES-2003 from forms website)
4)
Project Description (must not exceed 10 pages)
5)
References to Project Description (must not exceed 5 pages)
6) Project Budget (1 page: Form CSREES-2003 from forms website)
6) Appendices (optional)
The
entire grant proposal must not exceed 20 pages.
The grant proposal exercise will be
evaluated based on the criteria outlined on pages 90-91 of the proposal
guidelines.
Each student will present his or her
grant proposal (oral presentation of 10-11 minutes maximum) to the class on December 15. Some will give their presentations in the morning lecture period,
the others in the afternoon discussion section.
Students
should not submit grant proposals on topics related to current or previous
research projects or current or previous grant proposals required in other
classes. If such a topic is used for
this grant proposal, the maximum grade attainable is 70%.
Class participation is encouraged. The “homework” for 5102 enrollees will
include the grant proposal. In
contrast, the “homework” for 8102 enrollees will include the grant proposal and
the discussion section (see below).
Fifty percent of your final course grade is based on material covered during the last half of the semester.
The breakdown in grading for the Host-Parasite Genetics module is as follows:
Grading:
Mid-term
exam: 25% November 17
Final
exam: 30% December 20
Grant
Proposal 30% Due: December 17 at 5:00PM
The University
of Minnesota Uniform Grading and Transcript Policy can be found at http://www1.umn.edu/usenate/policies/gradingpolicy.html.
Grant
Proposal: General topics for possible grant proposals
are given below. The instructor must
approve the final topic for your proposal.
Students are required to submit a brief outline of their proposal on November 3. The grant proposals are due on December 17 at 5:00 PM. Late papers will be penalized 25% of their
final value per day. No exceptions!
1)
Genetics and molecular mapping of disease resistance in the host
2)
Stabilizing selection
3)
Expression profiling of host-parasite interactions
4)
Gene deployment strategies for managing pathogen populations
5)
Fitness attributes in pathogens
6)
Genetic systems in plant pathogenic fungi, bacteria, nematodes, or
viruses
7)
Fungicide resistance in fungi or antibiotic resistance in bacteria
8)
Genetics and molecular mapping of pathogenicity/virulence in the host
9)
Disease as a factor in plant evolution
10) Genetic vulnerability in crops
11) Host-parasite coevolution
12) Population genetics of host-parasite
interactions
13) Wild species as sources of disease
resistance and alien gene transfer
14) Hypovirulence and hypoparasitism
15) Risk assessment of transgenic plants
in the environment
16) Risk assessment of transgenic
microbes in the environment
17) Molecular basis and mechanisms of
host resistance
18) Mechanisms of variability in
pathogenic fungi, bacteria, nematodes, and viruses.
19) Durable resistance
20) Molecular determinants of pathogenicity/virulence
21) Vector specificity in the
transmission of viruses
22) Molecular signaling in host-parasite
interactions
Academic misconduct: The Conduct Code of the University of Minnesota details matters of
scholastic dishonesty to include the following: submission of false records of
academic achievement; cheating on assignments or examinations; plagiarizing;
altering, forging or misusing a University academic record; taking, acquiring
or using test materials without faculty permission; acting alone or in
cooperation with another to falsify records or to obtain dishonestly grades,
honors, awards, or professional endorsement.
Academic dishonesty
in any form will not be tolerated.
Discrimination and sexual
harassment: The
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