Microbiomes - an introduction to the fascinating world of microorganisms
The course covers bacteria, archaea and fungi, and to some extent also viruses, protists and microscopic algae. The topics in the course range from the structure and functions of microorganisms; their importance for human, animal and plant health and disease, their roles in ecosystems, biotechnological applications for the production of e.g. pharmaceuticals and food using microorganisms, to how microorganisms can be used to treat contaminated water or soil, manage waste, produce energy and their importance for sustainable use of natural resources.
The course is given as a distance course.
The teaching is conducted in the form of lectures, laboratory work, group and project work.
Course evaluation
The course evaluation is now closed
BI1376-20163 - Course evaluation report
Once the evaluation is closed, the course coordinator and student representative have 1 month to draft their comments. The comments will be published in the evaluation report.
Additional course evaluations for BI1376
Academic year 2023/2024
Microbiomes - an introduction to the fascinating world of microorganisms (BI1376-20210)
2023-10-31 - 2024-03-22
Academic year 2022/2023
Microbiomes - an introduction to the fascinating world of microorganisms (BI1376-20065)
2022-11-01 - 2023-03-21
Academic year 2021/2022
Microbiomes - an introduction to the fascinating world of microorganisms (BI1376-20162)
2021-11-02 - 2022-03-23
Syllabus and other information
Syllabus
BI1376 Microbiomes - an introduction to the fascinating world of microorganisms, 7.5 Credits
Mikrobiom - en introduktion till mikroorganismernas fascinerande världSubjects
Biology BiologyEducation cycle
Bachelor’s levelModules
Title | Credits | Code |
---|---|---|
The microbial world | 3.0 | 0102 |
Microorganisms in our lives | 2.5 | 0103 |
Final exam | 2.0 | 0104 |
Advanced study in the main field
First cycle, has only upper-secondary level entry requirementsBachelor’s level (G1N)
Grading scale
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.
Language
SwedishPrior knowledge
General entry requirements to Swedish higher educationObjectives
The course " Microbiomes – an introduction to the fascinating world of microorganism " is an orientation course in microbiology that aims to give the student an understanding of microbiomes, including the diversity and dynamics of microorganisms in various environments and ecosystem, as well as applications using microorganisms for a sustainable use of natural resources.
After completing the course the student will be able to:
Describe and discuss general principles of microbial life strategies
Show familiarity with the use of microscopy to study microorganisms and how molecular methods can be used to study microbiomes.
Describe species diversity and functions of microorganisms and explain the occurrences of microorganisms in different environments, their adaptations and dynamics, based on theory and a basic understanding of the relative importance of environmental and biotic factors.
Give examples of toxic substances produced by microorganisms, their effects and reason why they are produced (eg antibiotics / antibiotic resistance)
Exemplify, and reason about, how microorganisms can be used, for example in the biotech industry, for food production and in environmental engineering.
Exemplify, and reason about, how we can make use of microorganisms to achieve sustainable use of natural resources
Content
The course covers bacteria, archaea and fungi, and to some extent also viruses, protists and microscopic algae. The topics in the course range from the structure and functions of microorganisms; their importance for human, animal and plant health and disease, their roles in ecosystems, biotechnological applications for the production of e.g. pharmaceuticals and food using microorganisms, to how microorganisms can be used to treat contaminated water or soil, manage waste, produce energy and their importance for sustainable use of natural resources.
The course is given as a distance course.
The teaching is conducted in the form of lectures, laboratory work, group and project work.
Grading form
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.Formats and requirements for examination
The examination can be conducted through oral and written tests, assignments and project work. This can be done either at the end of the course or during the course. Submitted project work is reported in writing and in seminar form.
Laboratory, group and project work as well as seminars are compulsory.
- If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.
- The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.
- If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.
- For the examination of a degree project (independent project), the examiner may also allow the student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Other information
The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.
If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Additional information
The teaching language of the course is Swedish, but individual lectures or laboratory sessions may be given in English.The course is a distance course that is given at 25% speed . The course includes compulsory meetings in Uppsala.
Responsible department
Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology
Further information
Grading criteria
Betygskriterier
Kursen har en fyr-gradig betygsskala; 5/4/3/U
För godkänd kurs krävs
- Godkänd hemtentamen (fodras 60%) och modul quiz (godkänt/icke godkänt).
- Godkänt eget arbete (skriftligt)
- Godkänt grupparbete (skriftligt och seminarium)
- Fullgjorda kursträffar.
Det slutgiltiga betyget på kursen baseras på en sammantagen bedömning av studentens uppnåda resultat i förhållande till samtliga lärandemål.
Meddela kursledningen i god tid om du av någon anledning är förhindrad från att delta i obligatoriska kursmoment eller blir förhindrad från att lämna in obligatoriska uppgifter i tid. Om det finns särskilda skäl kan kompletterande uppgifter ersätta obligatoriska moment.
Outcome 1: Redogöra för och resonera kring allmänna principer för mikrobiella livstrategier. |
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5 |
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4 |
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3 |
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Outcome 2: Beskriv artmångfald och funktioner hos mikroorganismer, förklara deras förekomst i olika miljöer, deras anpassningar och dynamik, baserat på teori och en grundläggande förståelse av den relativa betydelsen av miljö- och biotiska faktorer. |
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5 |
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4 |
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3 |
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Outcome 3: Ge exempel på giftiga ämnen producerade av mikroorganismer, deras påverkan och resonera kring varför de produceras (ex. antibiotika/antibiotika resistens)
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4 |
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3 |
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Outcome 4: Exemplifiera, och resonera kring, hur mikroorganismer kan användas, till exempel inom bioteknikindustrin, för livsmedelsproduktion och för miljötekniska ändamål. |
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5 |
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Outcome 5: Exemplifiera, och resonera kring, hur vi kan använda mikroorganismer för att uppnå hållbar användning av naturresurser
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5 |
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4 |
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3 |
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Outcome 6*: Vara bekant med att använda olika lab-metoder för att studera mikrorganismer och hur molekylära metoder användas för att studera mikroorganismer och mikrobiom. |
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5 |
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4 |
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3 |
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*Beroende på COVID situation ändras detta till deltagande i digitala kursdagar samma helg
Litterature list
- Introduktion till Mikrobiologi – med inriktning mot naturveratare och farmaceuter Författare: Karin Carlson, Claës Linder, Klas Flärdh, Stefan Bertilsson, Magnus Lundgren, Staffan Svärd ISBN: 9789144118857 [Introduktion till Mikrobiologi – med inriktning mot naturveratare och farmaceuter] (https://www.akademibokhandeln.se/bok/introduktion-till-mikrobiologi-med-inriktning-mot-naturvetare-och-farmaceuter/9789144118857/) Kommentar: 332 Sidor. Grundkurslitteratur i mikrobiologi, på svenska. 530 kr, Akademibokhandeln m fl.
- Microbiology Författare: Nina Parker, Mark Schneegurt, Anh-Hue Thi Tu, Brian M. Forster, Philip Lister ISBN: 9781947172234 [Microbiology] (https://openstax.org/details/books/microbiology) Kommentar: 1275 sidor. Heltäckande kompendium i mikrobiologi, på engelska. Vi kommer att använder kapitel 1-10 som referens till kursföreläsninger – Open source, man få ladda ner gratis.
- Global Soil Biodiversity Atlas Författare: Orgiazzi et al. - European Commission ISBN: 9789279481680 [Global Soil Biodiversity Atlas] (https://esdac.jrc.ec.europa.eu/public_path/shared_folder/Atlases/JRC_global_soilbio_atlas_high_res-2019-06-13.pdf) Kommentar: Kapitel 2 behandlar markmikrobiologi, relevant för ekologimodulen och projektarbetet. På engelska, gratis.