Molecular methods in ecology 4303

Forkunnskaper

Bachelor degree in environmental sciences

Læringsmål

The course objective is help students choose and employ a molecular methodology suited to a critical look at different approaches to the solution of a problem, whether in the laboratory or in the field, and whether involving the collection or the analysis of data. This methodology may be further applied by students in their research work on master thesis.

Organisering

The course will be held in English.
The course include 60 hours lectures, seminars, and laboratory work, and group project.

Innhold

Special attention in the course will focus on:

• basic principles of molecular ecology
• basic principles of general molecular biology
• polymerase chain reaction
• protein electrophoresis
• DNA hybridisation
• DNA fingerprinting using minisatellite probes
• analysis of mitochondrial DNA
• DNA fragment markers in plants
• use of microsatellites in ecological studies
• analysis of DNA mutations in natural populations

Vurderingsformer

The evaluation will be based on written exams and group project where the students have to perform research on a selected problem using methods of molecular ecology. Report of a group project should be submitted in a written form and evaluated.