Digital innovation
In the course Digital Innovation we focus on the role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the fundamental transformations of industries and societies. After introducing the nature of ICTs, the first part of the course starts by providing an historical and theoretical introduction to digital innovation from a societal perspective. Specific emphasis is on
Advanced Biotechnology
Biotechnology is a broad term for all technologies that utilize biological systems, living organisms, or their parts to develop or create different products. This course covers topics ranging from the development of climate-resilient and herbicide-resistant crops using CRISPR/Cas to the development of mRNA therapies and the usage of fungi for removing contaminants from the environment.
Genomics and Bioinformatics
Genomics is a new area of research that relates to holistic study of the genome a the gene, transcript, protein and metabolite levels. Due to the large amounts of data involved in this study computer tools are extensively used. During the course we will present basic concepts of genomics and introduce students to the problems
Molecular Plant Microbe Interactions
The aim of this course is to understand how the immune system of plants functions, how plants and beneficial or pathogenic microbes interact with each other, and what the determinants are for their success in these different interactions. In the course several integration levels of plant-microbe (and -insect) interactions are discussed: from genes, signal molecules,
Gene Regulation
Eukaryotic genomes contain thousands of genes and transposons. To function optimally, genes must be expressed at the right time and place, and transposons inactivated. This course explores the complex mechanisms involved in gene regulation, including DNA sequences, proteins, RNAs, genetic and epigenetic processes, and newly discovered mechanisms like phase separation. Techniques used to study gene
Introduction to Responsible AI Engineering
Introduction to AI and Responsible AI Engineering (hereafter Responsible AI for short) introduces students to the history of AI development and how it got entrenched in society, as well as to the range of ethical issues that tend to arise during the development, design and application of AI in society.
Germplasm and Seed Technology
This course introduces students to a number of important aspects of plant breeding, such as the process of domestication, germplasm development and the importance of gene banks. Also, important practical aspects on bringing a cultivar to the market are discussed, such as breeders’ rights and patents, and the design of seed and plant production programs.
Machine Learning (WUR)
Machine Learning deals with algorithms that predict certain outputs (such as crop yields or traits) given previously unseen input data from cameras, other sensors, maps, molecular measurements etc. These algorithms learn how to do so using training data (sets of input examples, usually with corresponding outputs). Machine learning plays an increasingly important role in many
Advanced Crop Physiology
Understanding crop physiology is of utmost importance for adapting agriculture to the challenges associated to climate change and environmental degradation. While molecular biology has made impressive strides in elucidating the regulation of processes in plants, the challenge remains to understand what this means for processes in real crops as this is the level at which
Advanced Bioinformatics (UU)
In de cursus wordt aandacht besteed aan het begrijpen van en werken met grote hoeveelheden gegevens zoals de laatste jaren in veel genetisch en moleculair onderzoek worden verkregen. Deze technologische ontwikkelingen vereisen nieuwe vaardigheden en concepten om life science onderzoek te kunnen begrijpen en uitvoeren. In het eerste deel van de cursus wordt een veel