Admission requirements
The course is open for all students that are enrolled in the minor Molecular Biotechnology.
Students should have a background in Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Genetics. Students should be familiar with molecular techniques, such as PCR, cloning, protein biochemistry and “omics” techniques.
Contact information
Coordinator: Dr. A.J.F. Ram
Email: a.f.j.ram@biology.leidenuniv.nl
Description
Lectures by IBL staff and guest speakers introduce the importance of microorganism in contributing to our daily life and how microbial biotechnology can help our society to deal with for example the food supply for growing world population. Many lecturers will highlight the importance of microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) for biotechnology and the possibilities that microorganisms offer to reach UN defined sustainability goals.
Course objectives
Course objectives:
The aim of the course if to provide insight into the innovation and valorization process in Industrial Biotechnology. The students get acquainted with the most important microorganism used in industrial biotechnology. The focus will be on filamentous fungi (Aspergillus niger) and bacteria (Streptomyces and Pseudomonas species). The students will become familiar with the different aspects of the seven steps principle of the biotech chain; from gene to (biobased) product. Several guest speakers from various large, medium and small industrial biotech companies will present their company and their research. In preparation to that, student will read and discuss several papers and will get lectures on the molecular and genetic tools to optimize production formation in fungi and bacteria. Academic guest speakers will tell about their research and vision on how fungi and bacteria can help in dealing with major future challenges in relation to e.g. food supply for the increasing world population, the transition from a fossil fuel-based economy to a bio-based economy, and the solutions that micro-organism can offer in relation to plastic pollutions.
Final qualifications:
The student is capable of using the acquired theoretical knowledge related to research in the field of industrial biotechnology to understand the importance and opportunities that microorganisms offer to reach UN defined sustainability goals. i.
-Students are aware of the possibilities of how microorganisms can contribute to solve future problems, e.g. are aware of the possibility of producing dairy products by fungi; are aware of the contribution that microorganism can have in dealing with the plastic problem, are aware of the contribution of fungal enzymes in relation to plans cell wall degradation
Students can explain and reproduce what kind of research is conducted and what kind of molecular tools and research is needed to make these processes commercial attractive.
Timetable
A detailed schedule will be provided on Brightspace before the start of the course.
Mode of instruction
Lectures, case studies, writing reports,
Assessment method
The final grade consists of the following partial grades:
presentation 10% (minimum grade 6,0)
Exam: minimum grade: 5,6
Inspection and feedback on the examination
Students can make an appointment with the coordinator to have look at their exam. Teachers will be available to discuss the questions and answers during appointment.
Brightspace
Brightspace will be used for communication and exchange of documents
Reading list
Course material will be provided by the teachers, at least in part via Brightspace
Registration
Register for this course via Usis
Exchange and Study Abroad students, please see the Prospective students website for information on how to apply.