Plant Genetics

Plant genetics is the study of genes, genetic variation, and heredity specifically in Plants. It is generally considered a field of biology and botany, but intersects frequently with many other life sciences and is strongly linked with the study of information systems. Plant genetics is similar in many ways to animal genetics but differs in a few key areas.

The discoverer of genetics is Gregor Mendel, a late 19th-century scientist and Augustinian friar. Mendel studied "trait inheritance", patterns in the way traits are handed down from parents to offspring. He observed that organisms (most famously pea plants) inherit traits by way of discrete "units of inheritance". This term, still used today, is a somewhat ambiguous definition of what is referred to as a gene. Much of Mendel's work with plants still forms the basis for modern plant genetics.

Plants, like all known organisms, use DNA to pass on their traits. Animal genetics often focuses on parentage and lineage, but this can sometimes be difficult in plant genetics due to the fact that plants can, unlike most animals, can self-fertilize. Speciation can be easier in many plants due to unique genetic abilities, such as being well adapted to polyploidy. Plants are unique in that they are able to produce energy-dense carbohydrates via photosynthesis, a process which is achieved by use of a structure mostly exclusive to plants: chloroplasts. Chloroplasts, like the superficially similar mitochondria, possess their own DNA. Chloroplasts thus provide an additional reservoir for genes and genetic diversity, and an extra layer of genetic complexity not found in animals.

The study of plant genetics has major economic impacts: many staple crops are genetically modified to increase yields, confer pest and disease resistance, provide resistance to herbicides, or to increase their nutritional value.

* Description and images provided by Wikipedia under CC-BY-SA 3.0 license .

Matching Plant Genetics Colleges

Purdue University-Main Campus

Four or more years; Public; $28,520 average out-state tuition; $9,718 average in-state tuition

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Four or more years; Public; $37,161 average out-state tuition; $9,273 average in-state tuition

Michigan State University

Four or more years; Public; $41,290 average out-state tuition; $15,966 average in-state tuition

Scholarships for Plant Genetics Majors

Bullet name award deadline Link
 

Inge Paul and John R. Stafford Scholarship for Bioinformatics

Dickinson College

$38,000 January 15, 2026 See Details

Description

The Inge Paul and John R. Stafford Scholarship for Bioinformatics is available to incoming freshman students at Dickinson College who demonstrates superiority in the life sciences. Selected recipients will also receive $3,000 in total research support to be used any time during the scholar’s four years at Dickinson.

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Inge Paul and John R. Stafford Scholarship for Bioinformatics

Dickinson College

award

$38,000

deadline

January 15, 2026
See Details

Description

The Inge Paul and John R. Stafford Scholarship for Bioinformatics is available to incoming freshman students at Dickinson College who demonstrates superiority in the life sciences. Selected recipients will also receive $3,000 in total research support to be used any time during the scholar’s four years at Dickinson.

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Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Up to $30,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship is available to military veterans and their dependents who are pursuing studies in STEM fields. You must be a recipient of the Post-9/11 GI Bill or Fry Scholarship to be eligible for this award, which acts as an extension to expiring benefits of those programs.

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Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

award

Up to $30,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship is available to military veterans and their dependents who are pursuing studies in STEM fields. You must be a recipient of the Post-9/11 GI Bill or Fry Scholarship to be eligible for this award, which acts as an extension to expiring benefits of those programs.

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Jewel Scholars Program - Mount Mary College

Mount Mary College

$27,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Jewel Scholars Program is available to entering freshmen and transfer students at Mount Mary College who are majoring in Biology/Biological Sciences or Chemistry. You must demonstrate financial need and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be eligible for this award.

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Jewel Scholars Program - Mount Mary College

Mount Mary College

award

$27,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Jewel Scholars Program is available to entering freshmen and transfer students at Mount Mary College who are majoring in Biology/Biological Sciences or Chemistry. You must demonstrate financial need and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be eligible for this award.

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Morris K. Udall and John S. McCain III Native American Graduate Fellowship in Tribal Policy

Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation

$25,000 May 16, 2025 See Details

Description

The Morris K. Udall and John S. McCain III Native American Graduate Fellowship in Tribal Policy is available to Native American and Alaska Native graduate students who are pursuing studies in advanced degrees in health care fields. To be eligible for this fellowship, you must be a U.S. citizen/permanent resident, have completed at least one...

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Morris K. Udall and John S. McCain III Native American Graduate Fellowship in Tribal Policy

Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation

award

$25,000

deadline

May 16, 2025
See Details

Description

The Morris K. Udall and John S. McCain III Native American Graduate Fellowship in Tribal Policy is available to Native American and Alaska Native graduate students who are pursuing studies in advanced degrees in health care fields. To be eligible for this fellowship, you must be a U.S. citizen/permanent resident, have completed at least one...

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Big Bang Theory Graduate Fellowship-PAID

University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA)

$20,000 May 01, 2025 See Details

Description

The Big Bang Theory Graduate Fellowship is available to graduate students at the University of California-Los Angeles who are majoring in a STEM field, medicine, dentistry, or public health. Applicants must have participated and completed the Big Bang Theory undergraduate scholars program and received their qualifying degree from UCLA within...

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Big Bang Theory Graduate Fellowship-PAID

University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA)

award

$20,000

deadline

May 01, 2025
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Description

The Big Bang Theory Graduate Fellowship is available to graduate students at the University of California-Los Angeles who are majoring in a STEM field, medicine, dentistry, or public health. Applicants must have participated and completed the Big Bang Theory undergraduate scholars program and received their qualifying degree from UCLA within...

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Sturgis Fellowship

University of Arkansas

$20,000 February 01, 2026 See Details

Description

The Sturgis Fellowship is available to incoming freshmen who plan on majoring in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas. You must demonstrate exceptional academic performance to be considered for this renewable award. In addition, you must have a minimum 30 ACT/1320 SAT score and a minimum 3.8 GPA to be...

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Sturgis Fellowship

University of Arkansas

award

$20,000

deadline

February 01, 2026
See Details

Description

The Sturgis Fellowship is available to incoming freshmen who plan on majoring in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas. You must demonstrate exceptional academic performance to be considered for this renewable award. In addition, you must have a minimum 30 ACT/1320 SAT score and a minimum 3.8 GPA to be...

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Bess Heflin Fellowship

University of Texas at Austin, Office of Graduate Studies

$19,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Bess Heflin Fellowship is open to graduate students at the University of Texas at Austin. You must be studying one of the following programs: plant biology or botany, nutrition, ecology, evolution and behavior, economics, zoology, history, microbiology, cell and molecular biology, government, anthropology, sociology, psychology, biological...

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Bess Heflin Fellowship

University of Texas at Austin, Office of Graduate Studies

award

$19,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Bess Heflin Fellowship is open to graduate students at the University of Texas at Austin. You must be studying one of the following programs: plant biology or botany, nutrition, ecology, evolution and behavior, economics, zoology, history, microbiology, cell and molecular biology, government, anthropology, sociology, psychology, biological...

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SEI Native American Education Scholarship

Solar Energy International (SEI)

$10,000 Varies See Details

Description

The SEI Native American Education Scholarship is available to students interested in the solar energy industry. To be considered for this award, you must be at least 1/4 Native American Indian and a member of a federally recognized tribe. Selected candidates will be given tuition funds to cover SEI’s online or in-person training, with a goal of...

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SEI Native American Education Scholarship

Solar Energy International (SEI)

award

$10,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The SEI Native American Education Scholarship is available to students interested in the solar energy industry. To be considered for this award, you must be at least 1/4 Native American Indian and a member of a federally recognized tribe. Selected candidates will be given tuition funds to cover SEI’s online or in-person training, with a goal of...

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SEI Energy Women in Solar Scholarship

Solar Energy International (SEI)

$10,000 Varies See Details

Description

The SEI Energy Women in Solar Scholarship is available to female and non-binary students who are interested in furthering their career through renewable energy training. Preference will be given to BIPOC applicants. This award will provide solar training tuition fees to hand-selected women and non-binary students to help facilitate their...

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SEI Energy Women in Solar Scholarship

Solar Energy International (SEI)

award

$10,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The SEI Energy Women in Solar Scholarship is available to female and non-binary students who are interested in furthering their career through renewable energy training. Preference will be given to BIPOC applicants. This award will provide solar training tuition fees to hand-selected women and non-binary students to help facilitate their...

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J. Albert Finkel and Irma Jane Finkel Scholarship

Heritage Fund - the Community Foundation of Bartholomew County

Up to $20,000 Varies See Details

Description

The J. Albert Finkel and Irma Jane Finkel Scholarship is available to students from Bartholomew County attending Purdue University. You must be enrolled in the School of Agriculture to be eligible for this award.

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J. Albert Finkel and Irma Jane Finkel Scholarship

Heritage Fund - the Community Foundation of Bartholomew County

award

Up to $20,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The J. Albert Finkel and Irma Jane Finkel Scholarship is available to students from Bartholomew County attending Purdue University. You must be enrolled in the School of Agriculture to be eligible for this award.

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