NBIK13016U CANCELLED: Mycology

Volume 2017/2018
Education

MSc Programme in Biology

Content

Fungal diversity:

  • Phylogeny, taxonomy, Ascomycota, Basiodiomycota, basal lineages,  Oomycota
  • Structure and differentiation and nutrient acquisition
  • Dispersal and survival


Fungal populations and genetics:

  • Genetics and mating types
  • Population genetics
  • Development of molecular markers and analysis


Ecosystem mycology:

  • Life-styles, nutritional modes
  • Mycorrhizal fungi
  • Saprotrophic and wood decaying fungi
  • Fungal communities, tools and analysis


Fungal interactions:

  • Plant pathogens, ecology and lifecycles
  • Monitoring plant pathogens, emerging diseases
  • Fungal infections in insects
  • Mutualistic insect-fungal interactions
Learning Outcome

- To provide an understanding of the biology, diversity, life-styles and nutritional modes of the main fungal lineages
- To identify the main interactions between fungi and plants and fungi and insects
- To develop practical skills for growing fungi in pure cultures and perform simple growth and mating experiments
- To do and interpret results of simple phylogenetic and populations genetic analysis of fungal genes

Knowledge:
By the end of the course students are expected to:
describe the diversity of fungi in the light of phylogeny, life-styles and nutritional modes
explain how fungi interact with plants and insects in beneficial and harmful ways
critically evaluate different (molecular) methods for detection of specific fungi, detecting the genetic variation in populations and identifying species in complex communities
discuss, put into perspective, and criticize original research papers in modern mycology

Skills:
work experimentally with fungi including growing, transferring and setting up small experiments with fungi in pure culture
use their acquired knowledge of microbial diversity and ecology in designing identification, detection of species in communities or individuals in populations

Competences:
By participating in this course the students should be able to integrate knowledge of fungal diversity its broadest sense into designing and perform appropriate solutions to specific questions within mycology. In doing this, students should be able to take into the consideration the complexities of the system i.e. phylogenetic and functional diversity and the interacting with other organisms and with the environment. Students should be able to put fungi into general ecological, biological and microbial ecological contexts.

See Absalon.

Introductory courses (bachelor level) in microbiology and/or mycology, ecology, evolutionary biology or phylogenetics and molecular biology are recommended
Lectures, demonstrations, laboratory and computer practicals, group discussions and student presentations, Problem Based Learning (PBL).
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Colloquia
  • 14
  • Exam
  • 37
  • Guidance
  • 14
  • Laboratory
  • 21
  • Lectures
  • 21
  • Practical exercises
  • 21
  • Preparation
  • 78
  • Total
  • 206
Written
Collective
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Feedback by final exam (In addition to the grade)
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral examination, 20 minutes (no preparation time)
Oral examination based on an original scientific paper handed out at the last teaching day and text book curriculum.
Exam registration requirements

In order to be allowed to the final exam, the student should have participated actively in the course by being present minimum 80% at the laboratory and computer practicals, and by performing two satisfactory oral presentations (in groups) and handing in two satisfactory short reports (in groups).

Aid
Without aids
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Several internal examiners
Re-exam

Same as ordinary exam.

If the requirements are not fulfilled, the student must fulfill these tasks two weeks before the reexamination. These tasks are fulfilled by handing in reports equivalent to the original oral presentations and reports. Datasets for these will be provided by the teacher if needed.

Criteria for exam assesment

In order to obtain the grade 12 the student should convincingly and accurately demonstrate the knowledge, skills and competences described under Learning Outcome.