Professional plant breeders are invited to learn or expand their knowledge of how molecular markers can be incorporated into plant breeding programs during a two-day course to be offered Feb. 16-17 by UC Davis’ Seed Biotechnology Center.

The course, Breeding with Molecular Markers, also is intended for laboratory professionals who want to learn how their work can be applied.

It will be held in the UC Davis Alumni and Visitors Center. The training program will focus on current molecular marker technologies, quantitative trait loci, marker-assisted selection, appropriate population structures and sizes, and quality control. It will include a hands-on workshop on how to analyze marker data using data from the breeding program about the plant’s phenotype, or observable traits.

The course will be taught by experienced professionals from academia and industry. It is open to the public, with a course fee of $550 that covers course materials and lunches.

More information and registration are available online at http://sbc.ucdavis.edu.