Biological Sciences

Fermentation technology including microbial kinetics and mass balances, substrates, industrial microorganisms, sterilization, biosafety, and mass transfer are reviewed. Measurement and control. bioreactors, enzyme technology, downstream processing, and practical cultivation technology are included.

This course introduces the functioning of marine and estuarine ecosystems. The structure is centered around marine processes, systems, and impacts.  The course introduces marine and estuarine ecology through lectures, a field practicum, and a day trip to a tropical marine ecosystem. Lectures cover a wide range of topics and ecosystems including the most recent scientific insights and hot topics in marine ecology. During the lectures, important physical, chemical, and biological processes of the marine and estuarine environment are explained. The processes and ecological principles are illustrated more in-depth using examples from various estuarine and marine ecosystems. The influence of global change and other human impacts on coastal and marine areas, such as eutrophication, chemical pollution, and plastics, are also discussed. Lectures include guest lecturers from scientific institutes (NIOZ, Utrecht University, Wageningen Marine Research), the Zoo (Burgers Zoo), and PhD students to introduce students to current issues and trending topics in the field of marine ecology. The lectures are complemented by a field practical to gain experience with marine ecology research methods. Students also go on an excursion to the coral reef and mangrove display of Burgers Zoo, during which students get acquainted with the complex interactions in tropical ecosystems.

The course acquaints students with a wide range of microorganisms, including virus, archaea, bacteria, fungi and protists. In addition, students will acquire background knowledge of microbiology, which can then be applied to different microbe-associated tasks. 

This course aims to deepen and broaden the knowledge of high school biology courses, and is mainly to prepare for future courses in various professional fields of biology. 

Starting from the basic knowledge of nutrition and food, this course explores the application of nutrition in each life stage, as well as the principles of nutritional adjustment during disease; the content of therapeutic diet; and the supply of hospital food, thereby establishing the concept of disease prevention and health care. 

The course covers: 

1) An explanation of the importance of calories and precise nutrition in human health through a discussion of the three major nutrients: carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins; 

2) An exploration of the relationship between nutrition and other sciences such as biochemistry, physiology, food science, and clinical medicine; 

3) An exploration of the physiological characteristics, related diseases and nutritional needs of different life stages, providing dietary guidelines for all ages; 

4) An exploration of the nutritional needs and dietary formulas of common diseases; and, 

5) An introduction to the content and practice of hospital nutrition work. 

This course provides an overview of cellular components, including their structure, function, and mechanism. Based on the knowledge of cell biology, the course looks at technologies used for cell culture, stem cell research, cancer research, and tissue engineering. The course also deals with the medical and industrial applications of cells. It provides a study of mammalian physiology and the engineering aspects of different physiological systems, focusing on a number of organ systems that may include cardiovascular, respiratory, and renal. Engineering principles that include biomechanical, bioelectrical, and biofluids are applied to physiological systems.
 

This course examines genetics in the widest sense from the molecular and cellular to the applied and evolutionary. Both prokaryote and eukaryote genetics are discussed with respect to DNA replication, hereditary, gene expression and control, and the role of mutations at both the DNA and chromosomal levels. The course provides a pathway from basic research in molecular genetics to clinical applications in health and disease.

This course examines the ecology and conservation of shallow aquatic habitats, with a major emphasis on the ecology of marine coastal systems such as kelp forests, coral reefs or seagrass meadows but also including freshwater ecosystems. There is a very strong emphasis on experimental ecological analysis of benthic communities.