Microbial physiology and taxonomy
- ECTS credits10
- Teaching semesterSpring
- Course codeBIO219
- Number of semesters1
- LanguageEnglish
- Resources
Main content
Teaching semester
Spring.
This course has a limited capacity, enrolment is based on application. The application deadline is Wednesday in week 2 for the spring semester. Please see this page for more information. You will receive confirmation of whether you received a seat in Studentweb no later than Monday the week after the deadline.
It is compulsory to attend the first lecture/orientation meeting, or you risk losing your seat. If you are unable to attend the first lecture, you must contact the Study Section (<email>studie.bio@uib.no</email>). The time of the first lecture/orientation meeting can be found in the schedule on the course website or on Mitt UiB.
Place of Instruction
Bergen.
Objectives and Content
Objectives:
The course aims to give a thorough introduction to microbial physiology, taxonomy and phylogeny.
Content:
The course is divided into 4 modules focusing on the following topics: 1. Evolution and systematics, 2. Metabolic and functional diversity, 3. Ecosystem and biogeochemical cycles and 4. Biotechnology and synthetic biology. Students will complete project work related to the modules, consisting of: a. Planning and carrying out laboratory work, b. Analysis of ¿omics data, c. Analysis of recent scientific literature and d. Reporting and discussion of experiment.
The results of the project work shall be presented orally and in writing.
The course is primarily for students who are going to take the Master's program in biology, specialization in microbiology.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of the course the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:
Knowledge
The student can
- explain main principles of energy conservation in microorganisms
- describe the characteristics of various physiological groups of microorganisms
- identify metabolic interactions among microorganisms (in diffrent ecosystems)
- explain tools for taxonomic and phylogenetic placement of microorganisms
- describe applications of microorganisms
Skills
The student is able to
- cultivate different physiological groups of microorganisms
- identify metabolic pathways in microorganisms based on omics data
- perform taxonomic and phylogenetic analyzes of microorganisms
- plan, conduct, and report (oral and written) microbiological experiments
- evaluate and discuss possible biotechnological applications of micororganisms
General competence
The student can
- communicate subject matter in writing and orally
- find, compile and evaluate microbiological literature
- understand and discuss the relevance of microorganisms in society
Required Previous Knowledge
BIO214 General Microbiology or GEOV245 Geomicrobiology, or equivalent courses.
Access to the Course
In order to be admitted to the course, you must be admitted to a study programme at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences and fulfill required previous knowledge.
Teaching and learning methods
Lectures: 2 hours pr week for 8 weeks
Course assignments/seminars 16 hours per week for 4 weeks
Compulsory Assignments and Attendance
Attendance to laboratory exercises. Compulsory assignments are valid for 4 subsequent semesters.
Forms of Assessment
The forms of assignemnt are:
laboratory report 50 % of total grade
Oral presentation 30 % of total grade
Poster presentation 20 % of total grade
Examination Support Material
None
Grading Scale
The grading scale used is A to F. Grade A is the highest passing grade, grade F is a fail.
Assessment Semester
Only in semesters with teaching
Reading List
The readinglist will be available within June 1st for autumn semester and December 1st for the spring semester.
Course Evaluation
Students will evaluate the course in accordance with the quality assurance system at UiB and the department. You can find student evaluations in the Quality Assurance Reports.
Contact
Contact the Study Section at the Department of Biological Sciences: studie@bio.uib.no
Exam information
Type of assessment: Laboratory assignment and presentation
- Withdrawal deadline
- 01.05.2023