Environmental Molecular Genetics

The course can not be taken as a singular course.

PhD students at UiT apply for a seat by registering for classes in StudentWeb before 1. September. The registration starts 15. May.

Other applicants apply for admission through SøknadsWeb before 1. June. Application code 9301. For applicants who are granted a seat, a study right will be created, and these applicants apply for a seat by registering for classes in StudentWeb before 1. September.

The number of participants is limited to 12 (including students from BIO-3018).

The aim of this course is to give a thorough introduction to molecular genetic methods and bioinformatics used in modern biological research. The course will give a basis for advanced studies in different areas of biology and include practical exercises followed by computer analyses of own data sets. The students will isolate DNA and RNA from sub-Arctic samples,and prepare samples for incubation, GC analyses, sequencing and bioinformatics in the first part of the course. The second part includes the study on the epigenetic regulation of gene expression in plants. The laboratory and computer work is running for four weeks and the results are discussed in plenum. The students have to write individual laboratory reports. The lectures will be closely connected to the practical problems to be solved in the laboratory. Selected articles from the scientific curriculum are topics for seminar presented by the students.

Who can apply as a singular course student:

• PhD student enrolled at another institution than UiT. PhD students must upload a document from their university stating that there are registered PhD students. This group of applicants does not have to prove English proficiency and are exempt from semester fee.
• Holders of a master´s degree of five years or 3+2 years (or equivalent) may be admitted. These applicants must upload a Master´s Diploma with Diploma Supplement / English translation of the diploma. Applicants from listed countries must document proficiency in English. To find out if this applies to you, see the following list: Proficiency in English must be documented - list of countries. For more information on accepted English proficiency tests and scores, as well as exemptions from the English proficiency tests, please see the following document: Proficiency in english - PhD level studies

The number of participants is limited to 10 (including students from BIO-3018).

The course will be cancelled if less than four participants.

If more than 10 applicants, priority will be given as follows:

• Participants admitted to the PhD programme at UiT
• Participants in the Associate Professor programme (Førstelektorprogrammet)
• PhD candidates from other universities
• People with a minimum of a Masters degree (or equivalent), who have not been admitted to a PhD programme

Knowledge:

• Theory of microbial ecology and epigenetics
• Theory of gene and gene expression analyses
• Critical consideration of scientific literature within the topics for the course
• How to write a laboratory report
• Critical assessment of own results

Skills:

• Soil incubations and gas analyses
• Isolation of DNA and RNA from environmental samples
• Preparation of samples for sequencing
• Bioinformatics - analysis of sequencing results, sequence assemblies
• Gene expression (qPCR), methylation status analysis
• Present objectives, methods and results.
• Oral and written discussion of results

General competence:

• Theory of environmental genetics
• Experimental design
• Molecular laboratory work
• Evaluation of methods
• Discussion of results
• Presentation of results

Recommended prerequisites

BIO-2009 Green Biotechnology and Bioenergy, BIO-2106 Microscopical imaging Techniques, BIO-2601 General microbiology

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-3137 Applied Molecular Genetics 10 ects
• BIO-3134 Applied Molecular Genetics 20 ects
• BIO-3018 Environmental Molecular Genetics 20 ects

Language of instruction and examination

More info about the coursework requirements

More info about the oral exam

Re-sit examination

There will be a re-sit examination for students that did not pass the previous ordinary oral examination.

No re-sit exam is available for the assignment.

Info about the weighting of parts of the examination

Report ca. 50%

Oral exam ca. 50%

The final grade for the course is based upon a complete evaluation of the report and the oral exam. Students require to attain a pass grade (A to E) in the laboratory report in order to be able to take the oral examination.