Undergraduate Catalogue - UPRM

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES
AGRO 5501. AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY.
Three credit hours. Three hours of lecture per
week. Prerequisites: QUIM 3062 and (BIOL 3015
or BIOL 3300) and (BIOL 3770 or PROC 4016) or
authorization of the Director of the Department.
Biological concepts for biotechnology: enzymes,
nucleic acids, genetic transfer mechanisms,
operons, plasmids, vectors, cloning, DNA
sequencing, monoclonal antibodies, clonal
production and hybridization.
AGRO 5502. AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
LABORATORY. One credit hour. One three-hour
laboratory per week. Co-requisite: AGRO 5501.
Experiments or demonstrations on microbial
growth, DNA isolation, embryo transfer, protoplast
isolation, tissue culture, plant hybridization,
mutagenesis plasmid isolation and DNA
electrophoresis. Restriction enzymes and other
DNA techniques.
Plant Science Courses
CFIT 3005. FUNDAMENTALS OF CROP
PRODUCTION. Four credit hours. Three hours of
lecture and one three-hour laboratory per week.
Fundamental principles of the growth and
propagation of agronomic and horticultural plants;
the relation of environment to the distribution,
adaptation and utilization of crops; fundamentals of
soil management, tillage, rotation, plant
improvement, pest control, and other practices
related to the production and management of crops.
CFIT 4005. PHYSIOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES OF
CROP PRODUCTION. Three credit hours. Two
hours of lecture and one three-hour laboratory per
week. Prerequisites: BIOL 3435 and QUIM 3002.
Principles of the vital processes of crops: growth,
differentiation and development. Mineral nutrition,
plant-water relationships, photosynthesis,
respiration, photoperiodism and plant hormones.
CFIT 4007. PLANT BREEDING. Three credit
hours. Three hours of lecture per week.
Prerequisite: BIOL 3015 or BIOL 3300.
The improvement of crop plants by hybridization,
selection and induced mutations; methods and
techniques applicable to sexually and asexually
reproduced plants.
DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL
INDUSTRY
The Animal Industry program design allows
students to acquire knowledge and develop
abilities and experience in the areas of the animal
sciences related to domestic animal production,
including species such as beef and dairy cattle,
poultry, swine, small ruminants, horses and
rabbits. Apiculture (beekeeping and honey
production) is also included in the program.
Students enrolled in the program take courses in
both the basic sciences and applied subjects,
such as feeding and nutrition, breeding and
reproduction, prevention and control of common
diseases and product (milk, meat, eggs, honey)
processing and technology. Upon completion of
all requirements, students are awarded the degree
of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (BSA)
with a major in Animal Industry.
The Animal Industry Program prepares students
for work in a number of specialized occupations
such as management of dairy, beef, swine or
poultry farms; sales of feed, veterinary products
and farm machinery and equipment;
management of milk or meat processing plants
or as private consultants to the Agricultural
Extension Service or to other governmental
agencies. During the course of their studies,
students are also encouraged to venture as
private entrepreneurs.
The Pre-Veterinary Program is designed to
prepare students wishing to complete a degree as
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), with all
the course work in the sciences that are usually
required for admission to the accredited schools
of Veterinary Medicine in the United States.
This is a three-year, non-degree program. Upon
program completion, students receive a
Certificate. Those students who do not gain
admission to a school of veterinary medicine
may easily transfer to the Animal Industry
Program and obtain a BSA upon completing all
requirements.
The Animal Industry Department also offers a
graduate study program leading to the degree of
Master of Science in Animal Industry.
88 Undergraduate Catalogue 2004-2005