Plant Production and Propagation

Advanced Backcross Breeding

This lesson is a detailed explanation of the backcross breeding process. Variations based on whether backcrossing is performed with dominant, recessive, or multiple traits are discussed. Calculations associated with backcross breeding are explained.

Backcross Breeding 1 - Basic Gene Inheritance

This lesson reviews the basics of gene inheritance. It compares plants that are homozygous, heterozygous, and hemizygous for an allele and how gene expression is affected by the dominance of an allele. It also explains how to use a Punnett square to predict genotypic and phenotypic ratios of offspring.

Flowering Principles

What is a "flower" and what are its structures? How do the male and female parts operate to produce seed? Monoecious versus dioecious; perfect versus imperfect.

Native Plant Breeding: Bringing the Beauty of Nature Home

Looks at how native plant breeders create plants with new combinations of desired traits; the relationship between plants, flowers and seeds; male and female structures flowers; flower types based on structures observed in the flower; and how flower structures impact plant crossbreeding.

Propagation and Procreation - More of a Good Thing

-Creating unique individuals or perfect little clones -Genetics of it all -Peas in Darwin's pods

The Inheritance of Variation

An introduction to genetic inheritance, including the principles of segregation and dominance.

Theories Behind Plant Tissue Culture

When introducing a foreign gene into a target genome in plant tissue, you need to grow the transgenic cell to a complete plant. This is done by plant tissue culture, a biotechnique based on the concept that an organ, tissue or cell of a plant can be manipulated to grow back into a complete plant.

Transformation 1 - Plant Tissue Culture

This lesson explains the technique of tissue culture as used in plant transformation. It discusses important issues, such as the use of selectable markers, genotype specificity, and tissue culture alternatives.

Transformation 2 - Transformation Methods

This lesson explains the procedure of introducing a new gene into a plant cell (transformation). It discusses the main goals of the transformation process and describes the four main methods of transformation.

Transformation 3 - Transformation Events

This lesson defines an 'event'. It explains the determining factors specific to an event, the qualities of a desirable event, and the identification and selection of desirable events.