Visit to the LICA by students from the University of Orléans

The Master 1 students in Integrative Biology and Global Changes (BICG) from the University of Orléans visited the LICA on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. As part of the “Genetics and Plant Improvement” module taught by Annabelle DEJARDIN, they were immersed in a research laboratory applying the transgenesis and genome editing methods they had learned about earlier in the week.

This 3-hour visit began with an in-class presentation introducing the LICA building and the research activities conducted there. Various workshops were then organized by LICA staff to (re)introduce students to: the CRISPR-Cas9 tool (presented by Annabelle DEJARDIN), the genetic transformation of poplar and larch trees (led by Françoise LAURANS and Ismaël OUMAROU-MAHAMANE), in vitro culture and fluorescence microscopy (with Françoise LAURANS), and plant cultivation in greenhouses and the setup of experiments (by Clémentine BOURDERIAU).
The students then worked on a sample exam topic to put their new knowledge into practice.