autumn 2023
BIO-3014 Biological timekeeping - 10 ECTS

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Type of course

Master course for biology students - principally aimed at MSc-students specializing in "Arctic Animal Physiology".

The course is available as a singular course.

The course will only run if a minimum of 5 students are registered by the start date (BIO-3014 and BIO-8017).

Admission requirements

Local admission, application code 9371 - Master`s level singular course.

Admission requires a Bachelor`s degree (180 ECTS) or equivalent qualification, with a major in biology of minimum 80 ECTS.

Undergraduate level knowledge of physiology and molecular biology is recommended but not obligatory.

Course content

This course focuses on biological timekeeping (chronobiology) in animals, covering time-scales from hours to years. It covers the eco-evolutionary and biomedical importance of innate timing processes, the formalisms necessary for their study and the physiological mechanisms through which biological timekeeping is achieved.

Recommended prerequisites

BIO-2002 Animal Physiology, MBI-1002 Cell- and molecular biology

Objectives of the course

Knowledge and skills:

  • The key principles and intellectual formalisms of chronobiology
  • The evolutionary origins and ecological importance of biological timekeeping, and its relevance in biomedical contexts
  • The mechanistic basis to biological timekeeping at levels from the genetics to the whole organism

General skills:

  • Understanding the process of generating scientific knowledge
  • Science communication, orally and in writing
  • Review and extraction of relevant information from scientific research papers
  • Critical analysis of scientific literature
  • Presentation of scientific content clearly and in logical order while using language appropriate for the audience and occasion
  • Proposing, discussing and evaluating hypotheses

Language of instruction and examination

English

Teaching methods

Lectures/Seminars 12 x 2 hrs, based on pre-reading assignments. Approx. 200 hrs pre-reading assignments of primary literature. 4 hr actogram analysis practical to understand formal principles of chronobiology. 6 hr Adaptive value session to understand the ecological/evolutionary importance of clocks and assess appropriate scientific methods to ascertain "adaptive value" - through reading of primary literature and presentation to peers.

Information to incoming exchange students

This course is open for inbound exchange students who meet the admission requirements, including prerequisites. Please see the "Admission requirements" and the "Prerequisite" sections for more information

Do you have questions about this module? Please check the following website to contact the course coordinator for exchange students at the faculty: https://en.uit.no/education/art?p_document_id=510412

Error rendering component

More info about the oral exam

Poster design and presentation in "adaptive value symposium". Students will be assessed on the quality of the poster and the clarity of the presentation of the poster to peers.

Re-sit examination

There will be a re-sit examination for students that did not pass the previous ordinary written school exam. No re-sit examination is available for the oral exam.
  • About the course
  • Campus: Tromsø |
  • ECTS: 10
  • Course code: BIO-3014