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Instructor: Loren Stephens, 127 Hort, ph. 4-1917, e-mail lcs@iastate.edu

Course Objectives: First, to become familiar with the principal methods employed in plant tissue culture, and their current and potential uses in agriculture and the biological sciences. Secondly, to understand the underlying principles that allow these methods to be successfully used. Thirdly, to gain some practical experience in plant tissue culture.

Reading Materials. A lab manual will be handed out in class. This manual contains information about the organization of the lab (Rm 012), the equipment contained in the lab, and some procedures that will be used during the course of the semester. Additionally, reading will be from books placed on reserve (main library) and from downloadable journal articles available from websites of scientific publishers. Powerpoints for each lecture/class period will also be available from the link at the top of this page (Ppt Directory).

Course Structure. This is a 2-credit class that will meet each Tuesday at 1:10 pm. Most periods will start with lecture and end with class discussion of scientific papers dealing with plant tissue culture topics. Some periods will include lab demonstrations and procedures. Lecture/discussion will be held for approx. 90 min. Each student also will have arranged lab times during the week for independent lab work. You should expect to spend, on average, an hour per week in lab or on research relating to lecture/lab activities. Some weeks you may spend less time, some weeks more.

Lecture/Lab Content. Lecture content will include aseptic technique, medium preparation, organogenesis, somatic embryogenesis, micropropagation, anther culture, transformation systems, somaclonal variation, embryo culture, protoplast isolation and culture, germplasm preservation, and secondary metabolite production. You will establish and maintain a culture of your choice.

Grading. There will be 2 written exams, one scheduled during mid-semester, and the second at the end of the semester. Each exam will be worth 100 pts. The lab portion of the course will be worth an additional 100 pts, which will be earned during the semester by achieving objectives set for your project, and by documenting your progress.

Expected Outcomes. At the end of the semester, you should be able to: disinfest and place into culture suitable explants capable of being cultured and multiplied, make culture medium from reagent grade chemicals and stock solutions, routinely transfer cultures without contamination, and analyze the usefulness of information available from the scientific literature that deals with plant tissue culture.