Program overview
Forest tree genetics and breeding, simply put, is about 'genetic optimization' for trees. You'll learn how to use methods like selection, hybridization, molecular markers, and gene editing to make trees grow faster, produce better wood, and resist pests, diseases, and climate change. Core courses include forest genetics, quantitative genetics, molecular breeding, bioinformatics, and silviculture. Lab work involves tools like PCR, sequencing, and tissue culture, and you'll sometimes head to forest farms for field sampling. This major suits students who love biology, enjoy hands-on work, and don't mind switching between the field and the lab. Chinese universities have a unique edge here—Beijing Forestry University and Nanjing Forestry University, for example, host national-level forest tree breeding bases, and much of the research ties directly into real afforestation projects, giving you exposure to the full chain from genes to forests.