Specialisations - MSc Plant Biotechnology
After being admitted to the MSc Plant Biotechnology students have to choose a specialisation. The specialisation you choose determines the possible subjects of your thesis research (i.e. at which chair groups the research can be done) and which master's courses you are required to take.
Choose your specialisation
Sometimes the options are limited by the type of BSc diploma or previous work experience. Some students know which specialisation they want right from the start. Others have more difficulties deciding on a specialisation. Our study advisors can help you in making this choice. The MSc Plant Biotechnology offers three specialisations:
Functional Plant Genomics
Genomics profoundly affects plant molecular biology and genetics. Genomic information on Arabidopsis and rice has revolutionised insight into plant genomics. By using array technology, gene expression can be studied to improve our understanding of the complexity of the plant transcriptome and interactions between genes and gene products.
Courses
Courses for the specialisation Functional Plant Genomics are listed in the online Study Handbook.
Thesis
Students in this specialisation can do their major thesis at four different Chair Groups within Wageningen University. Visit their website to find out more about their research and possible thesis subjects:
Plant for Human and Animal Health
Plants are increasingly being used as a safe and inexpensive alternative for the production of valuable proteins for food supplements and pharmaceuticals. This specialisation provides a fundamental understanding of how plants can be exploited for the production of foreign proteins and metabolites. In addition biomedical aspects, including immunology and food allergy, and also nutritional genomics and plant metabolomics can be studied.
Courses
Courses for the specialisation Plants for Human and Animal Health are listed in the online Study Handbook.
Thesis
Students in this specialisation can do their major thesis at three different Chair Groups within Wageningen University. Visit their website to find out more about their research and possible thesis subjects:
Molecular Plant Breeding and Pathology
Molecular approaches to analyse and change qualitative and quantitative traits in cultivated plants are highly effective to improve yield and quality of food and renewable resources, disease resistance and abiotic stress tolerance. Molecular plant breeding focuses on the application of molecular markers and genomics to explore natural variation and on the development of transgene technologies to expand genetic variation.
Aspiration
Molecular plant pathology aims at understanding and exploitation of plant-insect, plant-pathogen and crop-weed interactions and the development of new technologies for integrated plant health management. These technologies include improved molecular detection of pathogens and transgene technologies to introduce resistance genes into crops.
Courses
Courses for the specialisation Molecular Plant Breeding and Pathology are listed in the online Study Handbook.
Thesis
Students in this specialisation can do their major thesis at several different Chair Groups within Wageningen University. Visit their website to find out more about their research and possible thesis subjects: