MASTER OF SCIENCE (MANAGEMENT OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES)

Study Duration
Minimum 2 semesters (1 year)
Maximum 4 semesters (2 years)

Intake
Intake – 2 times a year (March & October)
*subjected to UKM academic calendar

STPD6024 Research Methodology
This course provides guidance in planning, implementing and succeed in scientific research. Students are introduced to the philosophy of science and ethics necessary to be adopted by researchers. Students are given exposure to determine and manage risks in scientific research. Apart from that, issues and rules related to research such as intellectual property, copyright, plagiarism etc. will be discussed.  Subsequently, students are guided to plan their research and prepare a research proposal. For this, students are trained with techniques in information search both manually and on-line, identifying issues and research objectives, planning research and experimental design within their period of study. Students are required to prepare their research proposal according to the format and free from plagiarism. Students are given the opportunity to present and defend their proposal in a seminar. Students will be evaluated based on written and oral presentation of the research proposal, and final examination

STAB6013 Conservation Biology
The Earth is now in a critical period for the survival of its natural ecosystems and their plant and animal members. Conservation biology is a multidisciplinary science that has been developed to deal with this crisis. Conservation biology is not just about maintaining viable populations of all species. Conservation is also about moral philosophy, social justice, economics and politics. The course will be divided into a number of sections to reflect this multidisciplinary approach, namely the origins of conservation biology; biological diversity and its importance; threats to biological diversity; protection, restoration and management of populations, species, habitats and ecosystems; and economics and sustainable development.

STAB6143 Economic Botany and Ethnobotany
The course will focus and discuss the plant botanical aspects that have economic and ethnobotanical importance to man including their role in culture and civilization of man. It also covers some plant commodity groups such as food crops (rice and other carbohydrate sources), medicinal plants and plants in rural and urban landscape. A brief history on the use of plants among the people of Southeast Asia will be outlined from the aspects of biology, environment, socio-economy, culture and their roles in modern utilization such as plantation crops and agro-biotechnology.

STAB6903 Diversity of Plant Genetic Resources
The course covers various topics on plant diversity, with emphasis on different plant species that are used for food and agriculture, and for other uses such as animal feed, fibers, industrial biomaterials and medicine. Diversity between and within plant species for major, minor and underutilized crops will be discussed. Important aspects include general principles of diversity and evolution, origins of agriculture and domestication, centre of origin and diversity, history of distribution, gene pools, breeding systems, cytogenetically variation, introgression, genetic vulnerability and erosion, interdependence between countries, value of plant diversity, land races and their wild and weedy progenitors, and their use in breeding modern varieties. Examples include plantation crops, cereals, oil crops, fruit trees, root and tuber crops, grain legumes, vegetables, beverages, spices, medicinal and aromatic plants. The course also covers the history of plant germplasm collecting, legal issues in plant germplasm collecting and conservation. Includes field visits.

STAB6914 Plant Breeding
The course covers both crop improvement and tree breeding. Topics on crop improvement include genetic principles in breeding and improvement of crop plants, plant genetic resources, breeding systems, host-pathogen interactions, genetics of resistance and pathogenicity, monogenic and polygenic inheritance, heritabilities, heterosis, ideotypes, hybridization and selection, mass selection, pedigree selection, backcrossing, inbreeding, hybrid varieties, resistance against pests and diseases, genotype x environment interactions, and applied cytogenetics, physiological breeding, gene manipulation and genetic engineering in relation to their use in plant breeding. Topics on tree breeding include genetic principles in breeding and improvement of forest species in relation to production forestry, tree improvement strategies, selection methods, seed production area, seed orchards, genetic testing programmes, reproductive biology and advances in propagation technology, hybrids in tree improvement, wood and tree improvement, advanced generation selection, gains and economics of tree improvement, and applications of biotechnology in tree improvement. The course also covers population and quantitative genetics which are closely related to plant breeding. Includes field visits.

STAB6924 Advanced Plant Biotechnology
The course gives an introduction and overview of important biotechnologies and explores the ways in which new biotechnologies can contribute and be applied to crop improvement or tree breeding programmes. The biotechnologies include genomics and bioinformatics, mapping plant genomes with molecular markers, transformation systems, analysis of transgenic plants and application of plant genetic manipulation. Practical classes given are primarily associated with the current genomic tools and genetic manipulation techniques used in crop and tree improvement. Includes visits to biotechnology laboratories.

• Bachelor’s Degree in relevant field with minimum CGPA 2.50 or equivalent, from any institutions of higher learning  recognized by the UKM Senate; or
• Bachelor’s Degree in relevant field with minimum CGPA 2.00 – 2.49 or equivalent, with minimum of 5 years working experience or research project in relevant field. Proof of the working experience of a foreign candidate should be acknowledge by the embassy of the respective country; or
• Fulfill Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL A) for local candidates only:
  • should be more than 30 years of age in the year of application; and
  • possess at least STPM or diploma in relevant field or other equivalent qualification recognized by the Government of Malaysia and approved by the UKM Senate; and
  • possess a certificate of MQA APEL with MQF Level 7
• An international student shall obtain minimum results of TOEFL iBT score 46 / IELTS band 5.5 / CEFR band B2 / MUET band 3 (An international student who comes from a country where English is the official language, or who has obtained academic qualifications from any institution of higher learning that uses English as the medium of instruction may be exempted from the requirement for TOEFL / IELTS / MUET); and
• Fulfill other requirements prescribed by the UKM Senate from time to time.

1. Research Officer
2. Researcher
3. Lecturer
4. Plant Breeder
5. Policy Makers