NBIA13007U Archaea Biology

Volume 2013/2014
Education
MSc Programme in Biology
Content
Lectures and seminars will include:
  • archaeal genomics
  • evolution and relationship to eukaryotes and bacteria
  • basic cellular processes which are exclusive to archaea as well as those distantly related to eukaryotic and bacterial systems
  • adaptation to habitats of high temperature, high pressure, high salt concentrations, strictly anaerobic conditions and extremes of pH
  • structural and functional biology of the unique archaeal viruses and their host regulatory systems.
  • development of genetic systems for archaea
  • archaea as models for studying complex cellular systems in higher eukaryotes
  • exploiting archaea for biotechnology

Laboratory exercises will be performed mainly on Sulfolobus species which grow at 80oC and pH3:

  • culture of hyperthermophiles
  • manipulation of hyperthermophilic viruses
  • isolation of RNA molecules
  • high-throughput genome microarray experiment
  • bioinformatic analyses
Learning Outcome
Knowledge:
Archaea constitute about 25% of the planets biomass and make major contributions to the biosphere and atmosphere. The course will cover all
aspects of archaeal biology and molecular biology and will provide a strong background in the recent rapid and exciting developments in this field as
models for studying eukaryotic biology and evolution, and the considerable potential of exploiting archaea for diverse biotechnological applications.


Skills:
Students of the course will learn or strengthen the skills on

  • general laboratory manipulations
  • handling hyperthermophilic organisms and their viruses.
  • working with DNA, RNA and evt. with proteins
  • analyzing experimental data
  • article presentation


Competencies:
The laboratory exercise is based on ongoing research projects in Archaea Center. Therefore the students will have the opportunity to develop competencies in finding answers to a scientific problem through different approaches, in designing experiments to verify a specific hypothesis. Moreover, through article reading, presentation and discussion, the students will learn how to critically analyze scientific results.
Literature
See Absalon.
Open to biology, biochemistry, biomedicine and nanotechnology master students as well as students at the third-year bachelor level who have passed their first and second year courses.
Lectures, journal articles presentations, real research based experiments.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Colloquia
  • 10
  • Exam
  • 4
  • Guidance
  • 10
  • Lectures
  • 14
  • Practical exercises
  • 60
  • Preparation
  • 98
  • Theory exercises
  • 10
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written examination, 4 hours under invigilation
Students will be evaluated in a final 4-hour written exam which will include questions on the experimental section (25%) and questions on the theoretical part of the course (75%).
Aid
Only certain aids allowed
Notes.
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
Re-exam
Oral exam with external censor and grading according to the 7-grade scale.
Criteria for exam assesment
A grade of 12 will require an excellent command and understanding of the experimental and theoretical aspects of the biology and molecular biology of archaea, which will be evaluated in the written exam, as well as the competent execution of the experiments and an active participation in the literature and general discussions.