NBIA04103U Microbial Biotechnology

Volume 2013/2014
Education
MSC Programme in Biology
Content

Significant areas within the following topics are covered:

  • Microbial activity in natural environments and their requirement for biotechnology
  • Systems for growth
  • Fermentation kinetics
  • Strain and media development
  • Product Optimization
  • Basic topics in microbial physiology
  • Primary / secondary metabolite excretion (enzymes and penicillin production), and ingredients for food industry
  • Bioremediation
  • Rights and patenting
To illustrate some of the areas, guests from industry and university may attend.
Learning Outcome
The course aims to give students insight into and understanding of areas of biotechnology research and provide background information on the molecular biological methods, which are prerequisites for this research. With the students own involvement in the lessons, it is expected that they will acquire the ability to participate in public discussion of related topics.

Knowledge:
Selected areas of research within microbial biotechnology
Selected biotechnological processes related to microorganisms
Danish biotechnology companies and their focus areas
Natural environments as a prerequisite for microbial biotechnology

Skills:
Assess natural environments as a prerequisite for microbial biotechnology
Use selected laboratory methods relevant to microbial biotechnology
Perform oral and written presentations of topics in microbial biotechnology
Analyze scientific articles on microbial biotechnology

Competencies:
Assess selected areas of research within microbial biotechnology
Assess selected biotechnological processes related to microorganisms
Lectures, discussions and laboratory exercises.
The course is part of the qualification profile in Microbiology. For all courses of the qualification profiles, see Course Portal for Department of Biology.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Colloquia
  • 5
  • Exam
  • 0,5
  • Excursions
  • 9
  • Lectures
  • 19
  • Practical exercises
  • 14
  • Preparation
  • 149,5
  • Project work
  • 2
  • Theory exercises
  • 7
  • Total
  • 206,0
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral examination, 15-20 minutes
The final oral exam is based on the curriculum as well as the practical exercises.
Exam registration requirements
To take the final exam, the students must have actively participated in the course, made a satisfactory oral presentation based on original literature, and must have participated in the exercises and delivered a satisfactory essay dealing with them.
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
Criteria for exam assesment
To achieve the grade 12 the student has to
  • describe and assess selected areas of research within microbial biotechnology
  • describe and assess selected biotechnological processes
  • describe Danish biotechnology companies and their focus areas
  • describe and assess natural environments as a prerequisite for microbial biotechnology
  • perform oral and written presentations of topics in biotechnology
  • analyze scientific articles on microbial biotechnology