BIO404 Agricultural Biotechnology
BIO404 Agricultural Biotechnology
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Oct 10, 2025
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Genetics and Bioengineering
Mohamed Ibrahim
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
The course aims to expose students to the basic scientific evidence and technical aspects of the different disciplines of agricultural biotechnologies (mainly for plants and crops). It clarifies major scientific, ecological and sociological aspects of biotechnology in agriculture and food production.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Slater, A., Scott, N., Fowler, M. (2003). Plant Biotechnology: The Genetic Manipulation of Plants. (2nd ed.), New York: Oxford University Press Inc.
Additional Literature
Some Articles in the field of Agricultural Biotechnology.Teaching Methods
Presentations and Research article analysis
Class discussions with examples
Team assigments
Team presentation that involve real data, summary, interpretation and reporting and Field visits
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plant Genomes: the organization and expression of plant genes | Chapter 1 |
| 2 | Gene Structure, Transcription and Translation. | Chapter 1 |
| 3 | Recombinant DNA Techniques: Cloning and cloning Vectors | Chapter 4 |
| 4 | Recombinant DNA Techniques: Gene Probes and In situ Hybridization | Research Article |
| 5 | Plant Cell Culture & Propagation and its Application | Chapter 2 |
| 6 | Plant Cell Culture & Propagation and its Application | Chapter 2 |
| 7 | Techniques for plant transformation | Chapter 3 |
| 8 | Vectors for plant transformation | Chapter 3 |
| 9 | Molecular Markers | Chapter 8 |
| 10 | Molecular Markers | Chapter 8 |
| 11 | The genetic manipulation of herbicide tolerance | Chapter 5 |
| 12 | The genetic manipulation of pest Resistance | Chapter 9,10 |
| 13 | Genetically modified crop | Chapter 6 |
| 14 | Science and Society: Public acceptance of GMC | Chapter 12 |
| 15 | Revision |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIO404.1 | Course | Tuesday 09:00 - 11:50 | B F1.16 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 12:00 - 15:00 | A F1.14 | |
| Tuesday | 10:00 - 12:00 | A F1.14 | |
| Wednesday | 10:00 - 12:00 | A F1.14 | |
| Thursday | 10:00 - 12:00 | A F1.14 | |
| Friday | 10:00 - 12:00 | A F1.14 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
In term Exame
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Homework
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 4 5
Presentation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
Quizz
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lectures
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Assignments
30 hours ⏳ (6 week × 5 h)
In-term exam study
16 hours ⏳ (1 week × 16 h)
Final Exam study
20 hours ⏳ (1 week × 20 h)
Term Project/presentation
9 hours ⏳ (3 week × 3 h)
Home study
30 hours ⏳ (15 week × 2 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [BIO404] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Oct 10, 2025 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| BIO404 | Agricultural Biotechnology | 3 | 0 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | Junior Standing | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Mohamed Ibrahim | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Monday: 12:00-15:00 Tuesday: 10:00-12:00 Wednesday: 10:00-12:00 Thursday: 10:00-12:00 Friday: 10:00-12:00 |
|||||||
| mragab@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | NA | Assistant E-mail | ||||||||
| Course Objectives | The course aims to expose students to the basic scientific evidence and technical aspects of the different disciplines of agricultural biotechnologies (mainly for plants and crops). It clarifies major scientific, ecological and sociological aspects of biotechnology in agriculture and food production. |
|||||||||
| Textbook | Slater, A., Scott, N., Fowler, M. (2003). Plant Biotechnology: The Genetic Manipulation of Plants. (2nd ed.), New York: Oxford University Press Inc. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Presentations and Research article analysis. Class discussions with examples. Team assigments. Team presentation that involve real data, summary, interpretation and reporting and Field visits. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Plant Genomes: the organization and expression of plant genes | Chapter 1 | ||||||||
| Week 2 | Gene Structure, Transcription and Translation. | Chapter 1 | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Recombinant DNA Techniques: Cloning and cloning Vectors | Chapter 4 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Recombinant DNA Techniques: Gene Probes and In situ Hybridization | Research Article | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Plant Cell Culture & Propagation and its Application | Chapter 2 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Plant Cell Culture & Propagation and its Application | Chapter 2 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Techniques for plant transformation | Chapter 3 | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Vectors for plant transformation | Chapter 3 | ||||||||
| Week 9 | Molecular Markers | Chapter 8 | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Molecular Markers | Chapter 8 | ||||||||
| Week 11 | The genetic manipulation of herbicide tolerance | Chapter 5 | ||||||||
| Week 12 | The genetic manipulation of pest Resistance | Chapter 9,10 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Genetically modified crop | Chapter 6 | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Science and Society: Public acceptance of GMC | Chapter 12 | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Revision | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| In term Exame | 1 | 25 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Homework | 5 | 10 | 1,2,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Presentation | 3 | 15 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Quizz | 2 | 10 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lectures | 3 | 15 | 45 | Assignments | 5 | 6 | 30 | |||
| In-term exam study | 16 | 1 | 16 | Final Exam study | 20 | 1 | 20 | |||
| Term Project/presentation | 3 | 3 | 9 | Home study | 2 | 15 | 30 | |||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 23/10/2025 | |||||||||