bio773 - Sequence based Biomonitoring (Complete module description)

Module label	Sequence based Biomonitoring
Module code	bio773
Credit points	12.0 KP
Workload	360 h
Institute directory	Institute for Biology and Environmental Sciences
Applicability of the module	Master's Programme Biology (Master) > Background Modules
Responsible persons	Nolte, Arne (module responsibility) Dennenmoser, Stefan (Module counselling) Nolte, Arne (authorised to take exams) Dennenmoser, Stefan (authorised to take exams) Martinez Arbizu, Pedro Miguel (authorised to take exams) Albach, Dirk Carl (authorised to take exams) Khan, Gulzar (authorised to take exams)
Prerequisites	none
Skills to be acquired in this module	+ deepened biological expertise ++ deepened knowledge of biological working methods ++ data analysis skills ++ critical and analytical thinking + independent searching and knowledge of scientific literature ++ data presentation and discussion in English (written and spoken) ++ statistics and scientific computing
Module contents	Content of the module: Lecture: The identification of organisms based on DNA sequences is well established and databased dedicated for this purpose are growing through ‚barcoding of life‘ initiatives. Such information can be used to assign sequences extracted from environmental samples to individual species. This can be used to obtain species inventories and to study communities. While these methods are already used in fundamental research, they are only slowly adopted by fields such as conservation and ecosystem monitoring. The lecture covers concepts, methods, promises and problems of sequence based biomonitoring. Seminar: participants present topics relevant to the module. Exercise: We will generate and analyse sequence data data from environmental samples to generate species inventories for terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. For this purpose we will extract eDNA from samples and apply next generation sequencing. The read data will be jointly analysed on the university hpc cluster. The participants will study methods and concepts associated with the analyses and present them in short presentations. The key aspect in the practical cours is to assign sequences to species and to discuss the applicability of the methods in fundamental research and in applied, management oriented research.
Recommended reading
Links
Language of instruction	English
Duration (semesters)	1 Semester
Module frequency	annually in summer term
Module capacity	16
Reference text	recommended : bio733 Evolutionary Biology Population Genetics bio675 Molecular Ecology
Type of module	Wahlpflicht / Elective
Module level	MM (Mastermodul / Master module)
Teaching/Learning method	Lecture, exercise, seminar
Previous knowledge	Useful previous knowledge: - Evolutionary Biology - reading of scientific literature and presentation of seminar topics in english - Basic knowledge about molecular laboratory work and computer skills - experience with species inventory in the field

Type of course	SWS	Frequency	Workload of compulsory attendance
Lecture	1	WiSe	14
Seminar	1	WiSe	14
Exercises	6	WiSe	84
Total module attendance time			112 h

Examination	Prüfungszeiten	Type of examination
Final exam of module		portfolio (presentation, results protocol)