Bruno Studer: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2021

Name Prof. Dr. Bruno Studer
FieldMolecular Plant Breeding
Address
Molekulare Pflanzenzüchtung
ETH Zürich, LFW C 14
Universitätstrasse 2
8092 Zürich
SWITZERLAND
Telephone+41 44 632 01 57
E-mailbruno.studer@usys.ethz.ch
DepartmentEnvironmental Systems Science
RelationshipAssociate Professor

NumberTitleECTSHoursLecturers
751-0013-00LWorld Food System Information 4 credits4VA. K. Gilgen, J. Baumgartner, A. Bearth, R. Finger, M. Loessner, R. Mezzenga, B. Studer
AbstractKnowledge about the World Food System will be provided, based on case studies along food value chains in countries with various development stages and dependent on multiple boundary conditions. This shall generate profound understanding of the associated global challenges especially food scarcity, suboptimal diet and nutrition, food quality and safety as well as effects on the environment.
ObjectiveAttending this course, the students will recognize the elements of the World Food System (WFS) approach and the problems it this supposed to treat. They will especially comprehend the four pillars of global food security, namely (I) food availability (including sustainable production and processing), (I) access to food (physical and monetary), (III) food use (including quality and safety as well as the impact on human health and well being) and (IV) resilience to the boundary conditions (environmental, economic and political). This insight will make them aware of the global driving forces behind our ETH research on food security and is expected to alleviate motivation and understanding for the association of subsequent specific courses within a general context. The course equivalently implements agricultural and food sciences, thus supporting the interdisciplinary view on the WFS scope.
ContentCase studies on certain foods of plant and animal origin serve to demonstrate the entire food value chain from the production of raw material to processed food and its consumer relevant property functions. In doing so, important corresponding aspects for developed, emerging and developing countries are demonstrated, by use of engineering as well as natural and social science approaches.
Lecture notesHandouts and links are provided online.
LiteratureInformation on books and other literature references is communicated during the course.
Prerequisites / NoticeThe course shall particularly elucidate the cross section of Agro- and Food Sciences in the context of important global problems to be solved. Furthermore the students in the first year of studies shall be given some insight and outlook supporting the development of their views and interests in agricultural and food sciences further.
The course is part of the block exam after the first study year. Paper copies can be used ("Open Book") during the on-line exam, but no other means are not allowed. The course is taught in German.
751-0206-00LApplied Laboratory Techniques in Agricultural Sciences Restricted registration - show details
The course is compulsory for students in 5th semester BSc Agricultural Sciences.
4 credits4PG. Broggini, M. Gharun, M. Hartmann, S. Neuenschwander, L. P. Schönholzer, B. Studer, S. Yates
AbstractDie Lehrveranstaltung ist zweiteilig aus einem Laborpraktikum und einem angewandten Methodentraining aufgebaut. Im Laborpraktikum werden an 6 Kurstagen die wichtigsten Techniken der Molekularbiologie gelehrt. Das folgende Methodentraining findet an 5 Kurstagen im Block in einer der beteiligten Forschungsgruppen statt, um die wichtigsten Methoden aus dem jeweiligen Fachgebiet praxisnah anzuwenden.
Objective- Aneignung von guter Laborpraxis (Sicherheit, Effizienz, Qualität und Dokumentation)

- Erlernen der wichtigsten Labor- und Feldmethoden in den Agrarwissenschaften sowie deren korrekte und sichere Anwendung

- Vertieftes Verständnis von molekularen, physiologischen und biochemischen Prozessen in aktuellen agrarwissenschaftlichen Themenbereichen

- Aneignung von Kompetenzen für zukünftige Bachelor-, Master-, und Doktorarbeiten

- Kritische Beurteilung der angewandten Methoden für verantwortungsvolle Forschung
ContentMolekularbiologisches Laborpraktikum: DNA Extraktion, DNA Quantifizierung, PCR, Molekulare Marker, Gelelektrophorese, DNA Sequenzierung, Bioinformatik, qPCR

Angewandtes Methodentraining: Inhalte definiert durch die jeweiligen Arbeitsgruppen
Lecture notesLaborjournal
LiteratureWird einsprechend den Kursinhalten abgegeben.
751-1010-00LIntroduction to Scientific Methods Part II: Scientific Writing Restricted registration - show details
Only for Agricultural Sciences BSc.
2 credits4GR. Kölliker, J. Anderegg, A. Feurtey, A. K. Gilgen, M. Laub, A. Oberson Dräyer, B. Studer, F. Tamburini, D. J. Wüpper
AbstractDie Studierenden kennen die Grundlagen und die Konventionen des wissenschaftlichen Schreibens in den Naturwissenschaften, können wissenschaftliche Literatur suchen und verwalten sowie wissenschaftliche Publikationen analysieren. Sie setzen das Gelernte beim Schreiben eines eigenen Textes um.
ObjectiveDie Studierenden kennen die Grundlagen und die Konventionen des wissenschaftlichen Schreibens in den Naturwissenschaften. Sie setzen das Gelernte beim Schreiben eines kritischen Literaturberichtes zu einem agrarwissenschaftlichen Thema ihrer Wahl um. Die Lehrveranstaltung bereitet die Studierenden auf weitere schriftliche Arbeiten im Studium der Agrarwissenschaften vor, beispielsweise auf die Bachelor-Arbeit.
Lecture notesEs wird ein Skript abgegeben.
Prerequisites / NoticeDie Note für die LV Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten (Teil I: Grundlagen (WiA) und
Teil II: Wissenschaftliches Schreiben (WiSch)) setzt sich aus den Leistungen der Lehrveranstaltungen im
4. und 5. Semester zusammen. Die Note für WiSch (5. Sem.) zählt zu 80% zur Gesamtnote.
751-3603-00LCurrent Challenges in Plant Breeding Restricted registration - show details
Number of participants limited to 15.
2 credits2GB. Studer, A. Hund
AbstractThe seminar 'Current challenges in plant breeding' aims to bring together national and international experts in plant breeding to discuss current activities, latest achievements and future prospective of a selected topic/area in plant breeding.
The topic this year will be: 'Plant Breeding a(nd) Data Science'.
ObjectiveThe educational objectives cover both thematic competences and soft skills:
Thematic competences:
- Deepening of scientific knowledge in plant breeding
- Critical evaluation of current challenges and new concepts in plant breeding
- Promotion of collaboration and Master thesis projects with practical plant breeders
Soft skills:
- Independent literature research to get familiar with the selected topic
- Critical evaluation and consolidation of the acquired knowledge in an interdisciplinary team
- Establishment of a scientific presentation in an interdisciplinary team
- Presentation and discussion of the teamwork outcome
- Establishing contacts and strengthening the network to national and international plant breeders and scientist
ContentInteresting topics related to plant breeding will be selected in close collaboration with the working group for plant breeding of the Swiss Society of Agronomy (SSA).
Lecture notesNone
LiteraturePeer-reviewed research articles, selected according to the topic.
Prerequisites / NoticeParticipation in the BSc course 'Pflanzenzüchtung' is strongly recommended, a completed course in 'Molecular Plant Breeding' is highly advantageous.
751-8003-00LGenetics in Agricultural Sciences Restricted registration - show details
Only for Agricultural Sciences BSc.
2 credits2GH. Pausch, B. Studer
AbstractImportant concepts from population, quantitative and molecular genetics are introduced and applied to plant and animal populations.
ObjectiveAfter the course, the students will be able to
- work with genetic polymorphisms and explain mechanisms underlying allele frequency changes in natural and experimental populations;
- determine factors affecting the selection intensity
- explain the difference between genotypic and phenotypic values
- quantify the expected genetic gain per time unit
- explain important molecular methods to determine genetic polymorphisms;
- map traits in plant and animal populations using molecular marker information;
- integrate different concepts from population, molecular and quantitative genetics and explain their importance for applications in genetics in agricultural sciences.
ContentMolecular genetics (15%)
- DNA sequence variation
- Marker & genotyping techologies (SSRs, AFLPs, SNPs, KASP, GBS, RADseq, AmpSeq, Chip Technologies)

Population genetics (30%)
- Allele- and genotype frequencies in populations
- Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium
- Genetic drift, differentiation of populations
- Fitness, selection
- Inbreeding, relationship, effective population size

Quantitative genetics (40%)
- Recombination, crossing over, linkage analysis, genetic mapping
- QTL mapping
- Forms of selection and selection differential
- Heritability
- Quantification of expected genetic gain
- genotypic value, allele substitution effect, breeding value

Integrative genetics (15%)
- Genome-wide association mapping
- Estimation of genomic breeding values
Lecture notesSlides and exercises will be provided in advance of each class via Moodle
LiteratureFurther reading:
Falconer & Mackay: Introduction to Quantitative Genetics
Lübberstedt & Varshney: Diagnostics in Plant Breeding