3 ECTS credits
80 u studietijd
Aanbieding 1 met studiegidsnummer 4007447FNR voor alle studenten in het 2e semester met een gespecialiseerd master niveau.
In this course different extremes of physical (temperature, pressure) and geochemical (salt concentration, pH) conditions, or combinations thereof, that lead to the development of specifically adapted microbial life forms (extremophiles, poly-extremophiles) are discussed. The students get an overview of the diversity of extreme biotopes and their inhabitants, of the energy producing reactions that they use. This all is also discussed in the context of exobiology. Adaptation to cell walls and membranes, the proton motive force and transport mechanisms are unraveled. Other topics include the stability and activity of macromolecules (proteins, nucleic acids) under diverse extreme conditions and the thermolability of small metabolites. Diverse adaptation strategies are analyzed. Finally, examples of biotechnological applications based on the utilization of extremophilic microorganisms or components thereof are discussed.
For the Selfstudy part the student chooses a theme related to microbial extremophily and works this out on basis of recent literature and brings the result of this work as a powerpoint presentation for the colleagues students and the titular.
Text and a copy of all the figures used during the course can be downloaded as pdf files from the learning platform.
The students must be able to explain which parameters may be strongly limiting for the development of microbial life, which organisms are best adapted to thrive optimally in specific niches of extremes of physical and geochemical parameters, which cellular/molecular adaptations are required to thrive in particular extreme conditions. They should also be able to explain what are the physico-chemical bases of particular types of adaptations.
Students must be able to consult the literature and to give an oral presentation on a specific topic directly related to extremophily, prepared on the basis of recent research papers.
De beoordeling bestaat uit volgende opdrachtcategorieën:
Examen Mondeling bepaalt 100% van het eindcijfer
Binnen de categorie Examen Mondeling dient men volgende opdrachten af te werken:
The chosen topic and the research papers used for the preparation of the oral presentation (powerpoint presentation of max. 20 minutes) of a specific topic related to extremophily can, but must not necessarily, be communicated to the examinator.
Deze aanbieding maakt deel uit van de volgende studieplannen:
Master in de biomedische wetenschappen: management en bedrijfsleven
Master in de biomedische wetenschappen: klinische biomedische wetenschappen
Master in de bio-ingenieurswetenschappen: cel- en genbiotechnologie: medische biotechnologie
Master in de bio-ingenieurswetenschappen: cel- en genbiotechnologie: moleculaire biotechnologie
Master in de bio-ingenieurswetenschappen: cel- en genbiotechnologie: agrobiotechnologie
Master in de bio-ingenieurswetenschappen: chemie en bioprocestechnologie: voedingsbiotechnologie
Master in de bio-ingenieurswetenschappen: chemie en bioprocestechnologie: chemische biotechnologie
Master in de bio-ingenieurswetenschappen: chemie en bioprocestechnologie: biochemische biotechnologie
Master in de biologie: onderwijs
Master of Biology: Molecular and Cellular Life sciences (enkel aangeboden in het Engels)
Master of Biomedical Research: Standaard traject (enkel aangeboden in het Engels)
Educatieve master in de wetenschappen en technologie: biologie (120 ECTS, Etterbeek)