autumn 2024
BIO-3615 Quantitative Microbial Biotechnology I - 10 ECTS

Type of course

Master course mainly aimed at biology and biotechnology students. The course is also available as a singular course.

Admission requirements

Admission requires a bachelor's degree (180 ECTS) or equivalent qualification, with a major in biology, biotechnology or chemistry of minimum 80 ECTS.

Local admission, application code 9371 - master's level singular course.

Recommended prerequisites: One or several of following courses (or equivalent): BIO-2001 Fysiologi I, BIO-2513 Marin Biodiversitet, BIO-2601 Generell mikrobiologi, BIO-2606 Generell og marin bioteknologi, MAT-1001, MAT-1002, MAT-1003 Calculus 1,2 & 3, Linear Algebra MAT-1004


Course overlap

If you pass the examination in this course, you will get an reduction in credits (as stated below), if you previously have passed the following courses:

BIO-8607 Quantitative Microbial Biotechnology II 10 ects

Course content

  • Microbial (algal) growth kinetics
  • Cultivation, fermentation and photo-bioreactors
  • Metabolism and metabolic engineering
  • Basic principles of systems and synthetic biology

Objectives of the course

By the completion of the course, students are expected to have the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge:

  • Comprehensive knowledge of the quantitative aspects of microbial cell growth, cultivation, metabolic engineering and modern practices in synthetic biology.
  • basic understanding to the "biological design approach"

Skills:

  • quantitative problem-solving skills in the context of different microbial biotechnology applications including marine microalgae and genetic devices.
  • the ability to apply knowledge of modern biology to different biotechnological and bioengineering applications
  • basic ability to solve biology and bioengineering problems in the open coding language R
  • ability to communicate effectively in professional/technical settings

General competence:

  • ability to independently gain technical knowledge from available scientific literature

Language of instruction and examination

The course will be taught in English and some materials/communications will be provided in Norwegian.

Teaching methods

The course is comprised of 15 lectures (2 hrs). The syllabus is made up of relevant scientific articles and fact sheets that will be given out after the lectures.

There will be problem-based homework assignments for each section. There will be individual and group projects; students will write project reports and make at least one oral presentation during the course. We may have guest lectures from domain experts.


Schedule

Examination

Examination: Weighting: Duration: Grade scale:
Off campus exam 1/4 29 Hours A–E, fail F
Off campus exam 1/4 29 Hours A–E, fail F
Portfolio 1/4 A–E, fail F
Portfolio 1/4 A–E, fail F

Coursework requirements:

To take an examination, the student must have passed the following coursework requirements:

Professionality Approved – not approved
UiT Exams homepage

More info about the coursework requirements

Students will be expected to act professionally; as if they are training for a paid position in a biotechnology industry, business, government agency or university. Acting like a professional includes the following activities: thoughtful participation in during lectures; providing critical and positive feedback to peers; being respectful and courteous to all peers, instructors and guests; using and developing proper forms of professional communication (such as email, share drives, electronic documents); and being present and punctual for all course activities. Students are expected to attend all classes and to participate actively. If students must miss a class, they are expected to inform the instructor in advance.

Re-sit examination

There will not be a re-sit exam in this course.
  • About the course
  • Campus: Tromsø |
  • ECTS: 10
  • Course code: BIO-3615
  • Tidligere år og semester for dette emnet