The colloquium “Challenges in Plant Sciences” is a core class of the Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center's PhD program. The colloquium introduces participants to the broad spectrum of plant sciences within the network. The course offers the opportunity to approach interdisciplinary topics in the field of plant sciences.

Epigenetics studies the inheritance of traits that cannot be attributed to changes in the DNA sequence. The lecture will present an overview of different epigenetic phenomena and provide detailed insight into the underlying molecular mechanisms. The role of epigenetic processes in the development of cancer and other disorders will be discussed.

Modern genetic analysis in the genomic area, including key model systems and aspects of quantitative genetics.

In the module "Integrative Plant Sciences", which consists of the online course and seminar "Plant Response to Stress" (PRESS) and the colloquium "Challenges in Plant Sciences" , the focus lies on interdisciplinarity, ranging from molecular biology and biochemistry to ecosystem research, and an integrated understanding of plants in their environments.