NPLK13002U Human Benefits From Insects
The course will cover various ways, that human have benefitted
from insects, with emphasis on present and future perspectives.
Today only a few, yet very important, insect species have been
domesticated in big scale. Insects are, however, a tremendous
natural resource, as direct products or due to their beneficial
ecosystem functions.
The course will consist of the following major components:
- Insect diversity, structure and function
- Honeybee breeding and honey production
- Insects as model systems; social structures, immunity and
disease transmission
- Insect rearing, maintenance and insect disease control
- Insects as producers of chemical compounds and silk
- Insects as a source of food and feed, nutritional and
socio-economic values
- Insects as inspiration for innovation for bio-inspired
engineering and industrial design
- Insects in ecosystem services: pollination and biological control
- Insects in medical services: curing diseases and a tool in
forensic
- Ethical, cultural and public aspects: awareness and acceptance
The major groups of insects and other selected terrestrial
arthropods (spiders and mites) will be presented but focus will be
given to the groups with highest potential for use. Morphology,
life cycles, metabolic pathways and ecology will be dealt with in
particular where relevant for human utilization. The course will
have world wide coverage of examples.
The course provides knowledge about the how insects and other
arthropods can be utilized as a natural resource directly, as
bioproducers or for their beneficial functions. It will give the
students a broad coverage of insect biology with detailed
descriptions of those biological systems and processes that are
most relevant to humans and which could be utilised as lifestock
animals.
After completing the course the students will be able to:
Knowledge:
- understand insect (arthropod) biology, including diversity,
structure and function
- categorize and describe the main types of benefits insects can
provide for our society
- describe methods used for collection and rearing of relevant
model organisms
Skills:
- read and interpret subject-specific articles and textbook
chapters
- analyze and decide about improvements of and potential threats of
insects as model organisms both in specified systems and in a
general context
- observe and interpret features in live arthropods
Competences:
- explain adaptation to environmental variation
- explain resistance to diseases
- transfer knowledge for use in studies of human and domesticated
vertebrates
- evaluate ethical issues concerning insects and other
animals
Selected book chapters, scientific articles and reviews as well as the Internet
- Category
- Hours
- Colloquia
- 30
- Exam
- 4
- Excursions
- 8
- Lectures
- 22
- Practical exercises
- 10
- Preparation
- 76
- Project work
- 40
- Theory exercises
- 16
- Total
- 206
As
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Continuing Education - click here!
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Oral examinationDescription of Examination: The exam will consist of individual oral presentation (15 min) of a drawn topic /question. 2-3 weeks before the examination 5 topics will be announced allowing the student to prepare for each of the topics. One topic will be presented at the exam based on lottery. Duration 30 minutes (15 minutes for the presentation followed by 15 minutes questioning). Each student will be asked questions directly related to the presentation and also questions related to the overall curriculum of the course
- Aid
- All aids allowed
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
One internal examiner
Criteria for exam assesment
The assesment will be based on the learning outcome.
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- NPLK13002U
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 1 block
- Placement
- Block 3
- Schedule
- B (Mon 8-12 + Tues 13-17 + Fri 8-12)
- Course capacity
- 25
- Continuing and further education
- Study board
- Study Board of Biology and Animal Science
Contracting department
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences
Course responsibles
- Annette Bruun Jensen (3-696a724878746d7636737d366c73)
Main person responsible