Biological timekeeping
About the course
This course is mandatory for the specialization in Arctic Animal Biology masters. It is also relevant to ecologists studying phenology or behaviour who may wish to understand the internal mechanisms driving seasonal and daily adaptations to the environment.
The course is available as a singular course.
The course aims to establish understanding in the following areas:
- The key principles and intellectual formalisms of chronobiology
- The evolutionary origins and ecological importance of biological timekeeping
- The mechanistic basis to biological timekeeping at levels from the genetics to the whole organism
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.
Objectives of the course
Upon successful completion of the course, the candidate will have achieved the following learning outcomes:
Knowledge
The candidate..
- has advanced knowledge on the properties, approaches and jargons in the field of Chronobiology.
- has advanced knowledge of the evolutionary origins and ecological importance of biological timekeeping and identify unresolved questions.
- Has advanced knowledge of the anatomical and molecular mechanisms underlying daily and seasonal rhythms.
Skills
The candidate…
- Can independently analyse and interpret biological rhythms data in the form of actograms and other ways of visualising rhythms.
- Can identify, evaluate and synthetise the scientific literature
- Can find relevant methodologies in the existing literature to develop an experiment.
General competence
The candidate…
- Can critically evaluate how scientific knowledge is generated, including ethical considerations.
- Can communicate science findings, orally and in writing both to specialists and the general public.
- Can synthetize and critically evaluate scientific literature to identify opportunities for new studies
- Can present scientific content clearly and in logical order while using language appropriate for the audience and occasion
- Can propose, discuss and evaluate hypotheses
Prerequisites
Recommended prerequisites
BIO-2002 Animal Physiology, MBI-1002 Cell- and molecular biology
Credit reduction
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-8017 Biological timekeeping 10 ects
Teaching methods
Language of instruction and examination
EnglishSchedule
The schedules are normally finalized and published well in advance of the start of the semester, often a few weeks beforehand. This gives students the opportunity to organize their studies and prepare for upcoming activities.
It is recommended to check the schedule regularly, as changes may occur.
Information to incoming exchange students
This course is open to incoming exchange students.
Study Level: Master's
Admission to this course requires a Bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS) or an equivalent qualification, with a major in biology of at least 80 ECTS.
For details on how to apply for exchange, course selection guidelines, or to contact the Incoming Admissions Team, please visit: Admissions for Student Exchange.
Examination
| Oral exam | Duration: 30 Minutes Weighting: 1/4 |
Grade: A–E, fail F |
| School exam | Duration: 3 Hours Weighting: 3/4 |
Grade: A–E, fail F |
To take an examination, the student must have passed the following coursework requirements
| Lecture attendance and completion of pre-reading for lectures | Grade: Approved – not approved |
| Actogram analysis practical: Attendance, participation and satisfactory completion | Grade: Approved – not approved |
| Adaptive value session: Completion of peer feedback form before symposium | Grade: Approved – not approved |
Everything you need to know about before, during, and after the exam; registration, absence, appeals, and diplomas: UiT Exams homepage
