bio773 - Sequence based Biomonitoring (Complete module description)

bio773 - Sequence based Biomonitoring (Complete module description)

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Module label Sequence based Biomonitoring
Modulkürzel bio773
Credit points 12.0 KP
Workload 360 h
Institute directory Institute for Biology and Environmental Sciences
Verwendbarkeit des Moduls
  • Master's Programme Biology (Master) > Background Modules
Zuständige Personen
  • Nolte, Arne (module responsibility)
  • Dennenmoser, Stefan (Module counselling)
  • Nolte, Arne (Prüfungsberechtigt)
  • Dennenmoser, Stefan (Prüfungsberechtigt)
  • Martinez Arbizu, Pedro Miguel (Prüfungsberechtigt)
  • Albach, Dirk Carl (Prüfungsberechtigt)
  • Khan, Gulzar (Prüfungsberechtigt)
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.
Literaturempfehlungen
Links
Language of instruction English
Duration (semesters) 1 Semester
Module frequency annually in winter 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
Lehrveranstaltungsform Comment SWS Frequency Workload of compulsory attendance
Lecture 1 WiSe 14
Seminar 1 WiSe 14
Exercises 6 WiSe 84
Präsenzzeit Modul insgesamt 112 h
Examination Prüfungszeiten Type of examination
Final exam of module

portfolio (presentation, results protocol)