Course Topic List
LIST OF TOPICS (each module corresponds to 1 week)
COURSE I: ORIGINS
Module 1: Origins and impacts of plant diversity
A: Plants underlying food security and economic prosperity (LO.1)
B: Crop domestication and diversification (LO.1, LO.2)
Workshop: Vulnerabilities and threats to PGR (LO.1)
Module 2: Diversity of plant genomes
A: Plant phylogenetics (LO.1, LO.2)
B: Properties of plant genomes (LO.3)
Workshop: Biological classification of PGR (LO.1)
Module 3: Genetics of plant diversity
A: Types and measures of genetic diversity (LO.3)
B: Structure and patterns of genetic diversity (LO.3)
Workshop: Characterization and exploration of PGR (LO.1, LO.3)
Module 4: Processes shaping plant diversity
A: Mutation and drift (LO.2)
B: Natural and artificial selection (LO.2)
Workshop: Balance of forces shaping PGR (LO.2, LO.3)
Module 5: Geography of plant diversity
A: Environmental factors shaping diversity (LO.2)
B: Cultural factors shaping diversity (LO.2)
Workshop: Conservation and utilization of PGR (LO.1)
COURSE II: CONSERVATION
Module 1: Why PGR conservation is needed
A: What is PGR conservation (LO.1)
B: Ethics of PGR management (LO.1)
Workshop: Balancing tradeoff on sharing germplasm (LO.1)
Module 2: How to collect PGR
A: Governance of PGR (LO.1)
B: Process of PGR collection (LO.1, LO.2)
Workshop: Making a plan to explore and collect (LO.1, LO.2)
Module 3: Biology of PGR conservation
A: Genetic diversity in a genebank (LO.2)
B: Seed physiology (LO.2)
Workshop: Biology concepts to avoid pitfalls (LO.2, LO.3)
Module 4: Practice of PGR conservation
A: Seed regeneration (LO.2)
B: Securing collections (LO.2)
Workshop: Comparing and contrasting management strategies (LO.2, LO.3)
Module 5: Dissemination of PGR
A: Information management (LO.3)
B: Distribution of PGR (LO.3)
Workshop: Finding the germplasm you need (LO.3)
COURSE III: DISCOVERY
Module 1: Useful variation in genebanks for stakeholders
Class 1A: What useful variation is available in genebanks (LO.1)
Class 1B: Who are the stakeholders for genebanks and what are their needs (LO.1)
Workshop: Identifying stakeholders and their needs using a logic chain (LO.1)
Module 2: Characterizing genebank accessions
Class 2A: Characterizing plant phenotypes (LO.1, LO.2)
Class 2B: Characterizing plant genotypes (LO.1, LO.2)
Workshop 2: Generating hypotheses on phenotypic and genotypic variation (LO.1, LO.2)
Module 3: Germplasm panels and germplasm development
Class 3A: Diversity panels and core collections (LO.2)
Class 3B: Genetic stocks and mapping populations and (LO.2)
Workshop 3: Design genetic stocks to test hypotheses on trait variation (LO.2)
Module 4: Trait and allele discovery
Class 4A: Trait discovery from diverse accessions and genetic stocks (LO.2., LO.3)
Class 4B: Mapping alleles underlying traits (LO.2., LO.3)
Workshop 4: Testing hypotheses on traits and alleles (LO.2., LO.3)
Module 5: Getting useful variation from genebank to end-users
Class 5A: Understanding breeding programs, and the need for prebreeding (LO.3)
Class 5B: Delivering from genebank to end-users (LO.1, LO.2, LO.3)
Workshop 5: Making a plan to deliver useful variation to end-users (LO.1, LO.2, LO.3)