autumn 2024
BIO-2009 Green Biotechnology and Bioenergy - 10 ECTS

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Type of course

The course is primarily reserved for bachelor students enrolled in a biology or biotechnology study program. The course is a basic course and not recommended for advanced students which are or have been part of Plant Biotechnology programs in Erasmus partner universities.

It is a requirement that students have some prior knowledge of biology and ecology, chemistry and mathematics. (Participants must have taken introductory level university courses, and achieved pass grades, in these subjects).

Maximum number of participants: 16

Course content

The course will give an introduction into techniques and applications of "green" biotechnology, i.e. biotechnology with photosynthetic organisms. The lectures will cover techniques for targeted alteration of the properties of plants and algae. Breeding, genome editing, and genetic modification and their advantages and disadvantages will be introduced. A focus will be on applications of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agriculture, horticulture or aquaculture for the improved crops (for production of high value plant compounds such as nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals) and improved biomass for bioenergy generation purposes. The course will also cover the risk assessment of plant GMOs, safety measures when working with plant GMOs and current and future model plants. An introduction into in silico cloning by bioinformatics tools as important means to plan experimental strategies will be included in the course. These aspects will be deepened by reading and presenting original publications on selected themes. The practical part will cover plant transformation and grafting techniques, enzymatic approaches for biofuel production, plant tissue culture and plant regeneration.

Recommended prerequisites

BIO-2016 Plant physiology, BIO-2017 Ecology, KJE-1001 Introduction to chemistry and the chemistry of biology

Objectives of the course

Knowledge:

  • can define what a "GMO" is
  • are familiar with genetic modification techniques in plants
  • are familiar with applications of plant GMOs
  • can explain plant regeneration and organogenesis
  • are familiar with the action of phytohormones on plant regeneration
  • can explain the history of biofuels

Skills:

  • are knowledgeable about the challenges within plant biotechnology and its rewards
  • can critically assess the pros and cons of plant Biotechnology
  • are familiar with techniques for transient plant cell transformation
  • can set up and maintain a sterile plant tissue culture
  • can set up an in silico cloning plan for a given gene and organism

General competence:

  • have an appreciation over the merits of green biotechnology
  • have practical expertise in sterile plant work and GMO generation
  • be comfortable with work-flows and safety measures in a molecular lab
  • know how to document lab activity in different ways
  • are comfortable with presenting a research topic in front of an audience
  • can critically assess other peoples’ work

Language of instruction and examination

English

Teaching methods

20 hours of lectures, 8 hours of seminar (talks given by each individual student), 30 hours of wet-lab, 10 hours of computer lab and 4 hours of home exercises. Students will be required to use various documentation methods (lab journal, written lab report).

Appropriate local lab safety training will be given by course staff.

Information to incoming exchange students

This course has academic prerequisites.

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

Schedule

Schedule

Examination

Examination: Date: Grade scale:
Assignment 15.11.2024 14:00 (Hand in) Passed / Not Passed

Coursework requirements:

To take an examination, the student must have passed the following coursework requirements:
Lectures and laboratory exercises Approved – not approved
Power Point Presentation Approved – not approved
UiT Exams homepage

More info about the coursework requirements

  • Attendance of lectures and computer exercises (physical or online), group-wise active performance of laboratory exercises, individual performance of home-exercise.
  • Power Point presentation of a relevant course topic in a group seminar.

Approved work requirements are valid for three years

Re-sit examination

There will not be a re-sit examination for this course.
  • About the course
  • Campus: Tromsø |
  • ECTS: 10
  • Course code: BIO-2009
  • Earlier years and semesters for this topic