Masters In Plant Breeding And Genetics In Canada
A masters degree in plant breeding and genetics is a great way to get your foot in the door in the field of plant sciences. You can use your degree to become a geneticist, researcher or even an agricultural scientist. A masters degree will allow you to take your knowledge of plant breeding to the next level by learning how to apply scientific principles to improve farming practices and crop yields. A masters degree is also useful if you want to teach at university level or work as a consultant for agricultural firms or government agencies.
The Masters In Plant Breeding And Genetics In Canada provides students with an advanced understanding of genetics and breeding techniques for plants. Students will learn about all aspects of plant breeding, including how plants reproduce sexually and asexually, how genes are passed from one generation to another, and how genetic engineering can be used to modify plant genomes. Students will also learn about techniques used during crop selection such as marker assisted selection (MAS), parent selection (PS), recurrent selection (RS) and backcrossing (BC).
Masters In Plant Breeding And Genetics In Canada
Introduction
Plants are all around us, but the processes that govern how they grow and change over time are still mysterious. Plant breeding and genetics is the science of improving plants by using our knowledge of how plants pass on their traits to future generations. This means developing new strains of crops such as potatoes, apples or tomatoes, or improving existing crops so they yield more food with less effort from farmers. If you’re interested in this fascinating area of science, you might consider getting a masters degree in plant breeding and genetics in Canada. Below, we’ll delve into the details about programs and careers for those who specialize in plant genetics!
Plant breeding and genetics is the science of improving crops by taking advantage of the way plants pass on their traits to future generations.
Plant breeding and genetics is the science of improving crops by taking advantage of the way plants pass on their traits to future generations.
The field of plant breeding and genetics is split into two sub-fields: classical and molecular. Classical plant breeding applies selective breeding techniques to crops, where farmers will select for desirable traits that can be passed down from generation to generation. Molecular plant breeding uses genetic manipulation in order to develop new or improved strains of plants
The University of Alberta offers an M.Sc. in Plant Breeding and Genetics through the Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science.
The MSc in Plant Breeding and Genetics is a two-year program offered by the Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science at the University of Alberta. The program can be taken online or on campus in Edmonton or Lethbridge.
The first year consists of two semesters (fall/winter) with 21 credits each semester for a total of 42 credits. Students choose between thesis and non-thesis options for specialization, with a focus on crop improvement. In terms of electives, students can take courses from other departments at the university including Agribusiness Management: Farm Management & Rural Real Estate; Crop Production Economics; Sustainable Agriculture And Biotechnology; and Statistics For Business Decision Making And Operations Research.
The second year has 3 semesters (fall/winter/summer) with 15 credits each semester for a total 48 credits. There are no mandatory classes required during this time period but students may need to complete an internship depending on their area(s) of interest which may require them to fulfill additional requirements such as research papers or presentations
A thesis is not required for this program, although students may take thesis-based courses if they want to pursue a Ph.D later on.
A thesis is not required for this program, although students may take thesis-based courses if they want to pursue a Ph.D later on. These courses are also good preparation for a career in research.
The program begins with coursework in plant biology, followed by field-specific courses in crop improvement, genetics, biotechnology and statistics.
The program begins with coursework in plant biology, followed by field-specific courses in crop improvement, genetics, biotechnology and statistics. Students also have the opportunity to conduct their own research project under the guidance of a faculty member.
The curriculum is designed to provide students with an understanding of the biological processes that are involved in plant breeding and genetics. Students gain experience in various areas such as genomics; molecular breeding; marker assisted selection (MAS); advanced statistical methods; bioinformatics/computational modelling; defense against pests/diseases; crop modelling.
Students have access to state-of-the art equipment including RMIT’s world class GMP laboratories which house some of Australia’s leading experts on food safety issues related to genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
Masters programs offered at RMIT University:
Students choose an area of specialization from among those covered in their classes and choose electives that will support the direction they want to take their careers.
Students choose an area of specialization from among those covered in their classes and choose electives that will support the direction they want to take their careers. The following examples show how students can develop a specialization by choosing elective courses:
- A student who is interested in basic research could specialize in molecular genetics or biochemistry, while also taking courses related to more applied areas such as plant breeding, crop improvement, or plant physiology.
- A student who is interested in plant breeding could specialize in one of several areas: genetic basis for quantitative traits; crop improvement through hybridization; plant genetic resources conservation; gene mapping and genome analysis; transgenic plants and crops; genetic enhancement methods (e.g., marker assisted selection).
Graduates from this program go on to work as agronomists, seed analysts or researchers at government agencies or private companies.
Graduates from this program go on to work as agronomists, seed analysts or researchers at government agencies or private companies. Agronomists manage the breeding and development of crops, while seed analysts test seeds for germination, purity and quality. Researchers are employed by government agencies and private companies to conduct applied research in crop breeding or genetics. They may also be involved in projects that focus on specific crops (such as wheat) or regions (like developing drought-resistant varieties).
While some workers specialize in one area of plant breeding, others work across several disciplines. For example, you might find yourself researching new crop varieties using traditional methods like selective cross-pollination; working with genetic markers to isolate desirable traits; growing plants under controlled conditions so you can observe their growth patterns over time; evaluating how well different hybrids perform under different conditions; assessing disease resistance levels in various plants; determining whether there is a relationship between different genes when trying to breed certain traits into them (e.g., dwarfing genes will affect stem length); analyzing whether there is any variation between individual plants within a species so that you know which ones will produce good offspring after mating them with each other; etcetera!
Learn more about getting a masters degree in plant breeding and genetics in Canada.
- What the program covers:
- Who can apply:
- Faculty:
- Dr. Jennifer Aitkenhead-Peterson, PhD, University of Alberta
- Dr. Brian Dorsett, PhD (University of Saskatchewan)
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a job in plant breeding and genetics, Canada has lots of options for you. Whether it’s an MSc, PhD or just some experience working at an R&D firm, there are many ways to get started. Learn more about this growing field by reading one of our articles on the topic!