Biological Sciences

The course provides an understanding of the basis of Plant Medicine including Plant Pathology, Plant-Pathogen Interaction, Plant-Insect Interaction, and Plant-Environment Interaction.

Within this course the bacterium has a central role. The course discusses the molecular build-up of several different types of bacteria and the ways this make-up enables these bacteria to cause infections. Plenary lectures are given by experts active in diverse fields of microbiological research. Furthermore, the focus is on giving an overview on experimental techniques in molecular microbiology. A large part of this course consists of practical work in which the students perform their own research in a fundamental research setting. 
The course discusses topics including the molecular and structural features of bacteria (including cell wall, genome, secretion systems); the diversity within bacterial species based on those characteristics; the process of a bacterial infection, from entry, colonization/infection, to pathogenesis; bacterial virulence and survival strategies of bacteria; the molecular principles of immune evasion strategies employed by bacteria; the molecular action of bacterial toxins; the acquisition and molecular basis of antibiotic resistance and alternative treatment options (such as antibody therapies); and when to use, and how to interpret, the most important modern techniques within the field of microbiology (CRISPR-Cas, Flow Cytometry, Imaging, Next Generation Sequencing, Protein Structure, and Proteomics). The course requires students to have general knowledge on molecular cell biology as a prerequisite.

This course studies the processes that underlie evolutionary change in natural populations. Subjects dealt with range from molecular evolution to the genetic consequences of interactions between species, and from variation at single genes to speciation itself. The course provides an integrated view, combining theoretical and experimental approaches to the study of evolution with a consideration of both pure and applied aspects of evolutionary change. There is a strong emphasis on the development of numerical skills needed for the analysis and interpretation of genetic data and a quantitative approach to the study of evolution. Problem based tutorials accompany these lectures. The course then considers a series of special topics including evolution of host-parasite interactions and speciation.

This lecture covers the first half of the textbook, Brock Biology of Microorganisms, including structures and functions of cells, microbial physiology, gene expression and regulation, and introduction to virology. Students learn about the life of microorganisms and viruses and how microbiology provides basic and essential concepts useful in diverse fields of biological science and biotechnology. The goal is to understand the life of microorganisms and viruses; to understand how microbiology provides basic and essential concepts useful in diverse fields of biological science; and to learn about the impact of microbiology in the fields of biotechnology.

Prerequisites: Biology, Organic Chemistry, General Chemistry