Enquiry for Capstone Requirements for Each Major and Programme
BIOL4411 Plant and food biotechnology (6 credits) Academic Year 2025
Offering Department Biological Sciences Quota 85
Course Co-ordinator Prof P Wang, Biological Sciences < pwang1@hku.hk >
Teachers Involved (Prof P Wang,School of Biological Sciences)
Course Objectives This course covers the principles and key concepts of plant and food biotechnology and its applications in increasing global food supply.  The significances of biotechnology in agriculture and food production, and the emerging importance of plant biotechnology in molecular farming for the production of biopharmaceuticals and other high-value proteins will be discussed.  The course will also provide an insight on the real-life applications of plant and food biotechnology.
Course Contents & Topics - Genetic improvements in agriculture.
  Transgenic crops in global food production.  
- Tools in plant genetic engineering: promoters and marker genes.
- Techniques in plant gene transfer: Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, biolistics and microinjection.
- Nuclear and plastid transformation.
- Gene silencing in plants.  Genetic manipulation of commercially useful biosynthetic pathways in crops.
   Extending shelf-life of fruits.  Prevention of enzymatic browning of potato tubers.
   Genetically-engineered biofortified foods: provitamin A-enriched rice, omega-3-enriched soy and high-anthocyanin tomatoes.
- Biotechnology in plant pest and disease management:
  Producing crops resistant to phytopathogens and pests. Genome editing.
  Short-interfering RNAs in gene silencing to defend against plant viruses.
  Protecting crops in the field using the Bt toxin.
  Pest-resistant genetically-transformed seeds using the alpha-amylase inhibitor
- Herbicide-resistant crops.
- Plants as bioreactors for molecular farming: transgenic and transplastomic plants for producing recombinant biopharmaceutical proteins.
  Biodegradable plastics. Biofuels.
- Genetically-modified crops and food products: regulation, testing and labelling.
- Status of GM food in North America, Europe and Hong Kong.
Course Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

CLO 1 acquire key concepts in plant and food biotechnology and basic laboratory techniques in plant biotechnology
CLO 2 gain insight into real-life applications in plant and food biotechnology
CLO 3 develop scientific inquiry and critical thinking skills
Pre-requisites
(and Co-requisites and
Impermissible combinations)		 Pass in BIOL3211 or BIOL3401
Course Status with Related Major/Minor /Professional Core 2025 Major in Biological Sciences ( Disciplinary Elective )
2025 Major in Biological Sciences (Intensive) ( Disciplinary Elective )
2025 Major in Food & Nutritional Science ( Disciplinary Elective )
2025 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology ( Core/Compulsory )
2025 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2025 Minor in Food & Nutritional Science ( Disciplinary Elective )
2025 Minor in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology ( Disciplinary Elective )
2024 Major in Biological Sciences ( Disciplinary Elective )
2024 Major in Biological Sciences (Intensive) ( Disciplinary Elective )
2024 Major in Food & Nutritional Science ( Disciplinary Elective )
2024 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology ( Core/Compulsory )
2024 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2024 Minor in Food & Nutritional Science ( Disciplinary Elective )
2024 Minor in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology ( Disciplinary Elective )
2023 Major in Biological Sciences ( Disciplinary Elective )
2023 Major in Biological Sciences (Intensive) ( Disciplinary Elective )
2023 Major in Food & Nutritional Science ( Disciplinary Elective )
2023 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology ( Core/Compulsory )
2023 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2023 Minor in Food & Nutritional Science ( Disciplinary Elective )
2023 Minor in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology ( Disciplinary Elective )
2022 Major in Biological Sciences ( Disciplinary Elective )
2022 Major in Biological Sciences (Intensive) ( Disciplinary Elective )
2022 Major in Food & Nutritional Science ( Disciplinary Elective )
2022 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology ( Core/Compulsory )
2022 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2022 Minor in Food & Nutritional Science ( Disciplinary Elective )
2022 Minor in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology ( Disciplinary Elective )
2021 Major in Biological Sciences ( Disciplinary Elective )
2021 Major in Biological Sciences (Intensive) ( Disciplinary Elective )
2021 Major in Food & Nutritional Science ( Disciplinary Elective )
2021 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology ( Core/Compulsory )
2021 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2021 Minor in Food & Nutritional Science ( Disciplinary Elective )
2021 Minor in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology ( Disciplinary Elective )
2021 Minor in Plant Science ( Disciplinary Elective )
Course to PLO Mapping 2025 Major in Biological Sciences < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2025 Major in Biological Sciences (Intensive) < PLO 1,3,4,5 >
2025 Major in Food & Nutritional Science < PLO 1,2,3,4,5 >
2025 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology < PLO 1,3,4,5 >
2025 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (Intensive) < PLO 1,3,4,5 >
2024 Major in Biological Sciences < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2024 Major in Biological Sciences (Intensive) < PLO 1,3,4,5 >
2024 Major in Food & Nutritional Science < PLO 1,2,3,4,5 >
2024 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology < PLO 1,3,4,5 >
2024 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (Intensive) < PLO 1,3,4,5 >
2023 Major in Biological Sciences < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2023 Major in Biological Sciences (Intensive) < PLO 1,3,4,5 >
2023 Major in Food & Nutritional Science < PLO 1,2,3,4,5 >
2023 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology < PLO 1,3,4,5 >
2023 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (Intensive) < PLO 1,3,4,5 >
2022 Major in Biological Sciences < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2022 Major in Biological Sciences (Intensive) < PLO 1,3,4,5 >
2022 Major in Food & Nutritional Science < PLO 1,2,3,4,5 >
2022 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology < PLO 1,3,4,5 >
2022 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (Intensive) < PLO 1,3,4,5 >
2021 Major in Biological Sciences < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2021 Major in Biological Sciences (Intensive) < PLO 1,3,4,5 >
2021 Major in Food & Nutritional Science < PLO 1,2,3,4,5 >
2021 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology < PLO 1,3,4,5 >
2021 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (Intensive) < PLO 1,3,4,5 >
Offer in 2025 - 2026 Y        1st sem    Examination Dec     
Offer in 2026 - 2027 Y
Course Grade A+ to F
Grade Descriptors
A Demonstrate thorough and complete mastery of extensive knowledge and skills required for attaining the learning outcomes in Plant and Food Biotechnology. Show strong analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking, with evidence of original thought, and ability to apply knowledge to a wide range of complex, familiar and unfamiliar situations in plant biotechnology. Apply highly effective organizational and presentational skills.
B Demonstrate substantial command of a broad range of knowledge and skills required for attaining at least most of the course learning outcomes in plant biotechnology. Show evidence of analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking, and ability to apply knowledge to familiar and some unfamiliar situations. Apply effective organizational and presentational skills.
C Demonstrate general but incomplete command of knowledge and skills required for attaining most of the course learning outcomes. Show evidence of some analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking, and ability to apply knowledge to most familiar situations. Show moderately effective organizational and presentational skills.
D Demonstrate partial but limited command of knowledge and skills required for attaining some of the course learning outcomes. Some evidence of coherent and logical thinking, accompanied with limited analytical and critical skills. Show limited ability to apply knowledge in plant biotechnology. Show limited or barely effective organizational and presentational skills.
Fail Fail to demonstrate command of knowledge and skills required for attaining the course learning outcomes. Lack of analytical and critical abilities, logical and coherent thinking. No evidence in ability to apply knowledge in plant biotechnology. Ineffective organizational and presentational skills.
Communication-intensive Course N
Course Type Lecture with laboratory component course
Course Teaching
& Learning Activities
Activities Details No. of Hours
Laboratory practical/laboratory/project 30.0
Lectures 24.0
Reading / Self study 100.0
Assessment Methods
and Weighting
Methods Details Weighting in final
course grade (%)		 Assessment Methods
to CLO Mapping
Examination 50.0 1,2,3
Laboratory reports 10.0 1,2,3
Presentation 20.0 1,2,3
Test 20.0 1,2,3
Required/recommended reading
and online materials		 Chrispeels, M.J. and D.E. Sadava. Plants, genes, and agriculture. Jones and Bartlett.

E-reserves (HKU Library)
Lecture notes on Moodle
Course Website http://moodle.hku.hk/
Additional Course Information Core in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology Major
An advanced elective course in FNS Major


Back  /  Home