Experimental Higher Model Organisms

Course content

Class lectures, student literature presentations, and practical laboratory and theoretical exercises will provide an overview of the use of biological model systems and strategies used in basic and applied research. The course includes models such as the angiosperm (flowering plant) Arabidopsis thaliana, the invertebrate model system Drosophila melanogaster (bananflue, the “fruit fly”), and the vertebrate model system Mus musculus (the mouse).

Laboratory exercises will employ a range of techniques that may include quantitative assays of gene expression, measurement of metabolite levels, dissection, immunostaining and confocal microscopy, plant tissue culture, Drosophila handling and genetics.

Education

MSc Programme in Biochemistry
MSc Programme in Biology
MSc Programme in Biology with a minor subject

Learning outcome

By the end of the course, students will be expected to have the following knowledge, skills and competences:

Knowledge of:  the advantages of different model organisms for different scientific investigative approaches; the areas of biological investigation encountered during the program in the assigned reading, lectures, seminar presentations, and written reports; and the general techniques used.

Skills to:

  • Understand and explain developments in the fields presented by the teachers;
  • Describe in detail the methodologies used in these fields;
  • Explain and exemplify the technologies used in these fields;
  • Present assigned primary literature (i.e., peer-reviewed journal articles);
  • Consult literature and databases to complete the assigned written work;
  • Be able to give a detailed description of and evaluate the exercises presented during the course.


Competences to:

  • Discuss and criticize research articles orally and in writing
  • Interpret various types of experimental data introduced in the course
  • Discuss interdisciplinary aspects of the research covered in the course
  • Propose experiments to test models and questions raised in research on model organisms.

Instructors will give introductory lectures and assign background reading and literature presentations for their class segment. Through these lectures, informal discussion, reading and presentation of literature, and laboratory exercises, students will learn about the featured model systems, the specific biological problems that will be investigated in lab, and other appropriate, interesting material.

See Absalon.

General Molecular Biology/Almen molekylærbiologi or an equivalent course.

Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree is recommended.

Written
Oral
Individual
Collective
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
ECTS
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written examination, 3 hours under invigilation
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Several internal examiners.
Criteria for exam assessment

See Learning outcome.

Single subject courses (day)

  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 28
  • Class Instruction
  • 21
  • Preparation
  • 82
  • Theory exercises
  • 21
  • Project work
  • 51
  • Exam
  • 3
  • English
  • 206

Kursusinformation

Language
English
Course number
NBIK13005U
ECTS
7,5 ECTS
Programme level
Full Degree Master
Duration

1 block

Placement
Block 2
Schedulegroup
A
Capacity
30
The number of seats may be reduced in the late registration period
Studyboard
Study Board for the Biological Area
Contracting department
  • Department of Biology
Contracting faculty
  • Faculty of Science
Course Coordinator
  • Kim Rewitz   (10-72707435796c7e707b814769707635727c356b72)
Saved on the 28-02-2023

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