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Forest microbes as resources in biotechnology: discovery, methodology and utilization (YBIOT570)
Subject / field of study: biotechnology, microbiology, mycology, soil biology, plant biology, forest pathology, forest ecology
Level: All
Ects points: 5
Location: Department of Applied Chemistry and Microbiology, Biocenter 1 (Viikinkaari 9), University of Helsinki, Finland
Link to registration: http://www.helsinki.fi/biotech/
Organiser information:
Institution / university: Department of Applied Chemistry and Microbiology, University of HelsinkiAddress: Biocenter 1 (Viikinkaari 9), FI-00014 University of Helsinki
Country: Finland
Phone:
Contact person: Jussi Heinonsalo, jussi.heinonsalo@helsinki.fi, Direct: +358-9-1915 318
URL: http://www.helsinki.fi/biotech/
The Master's Degree Programme in Biotechnology (MBIOT) study course ‘YBIOT570 Forest microbes as resources in biotechnology: discovery, methodology and utilization’ covers the whole process of discovery of new biocompounds from identification to potential applications of the compounds or their source organisms.
The Master's Degree Programme in Biotechnology (MBIOT) study course ‘YBIOT570 Forest microbes as resources in biotechnology: discovery, methodology and utilization’ covers the whole process of discovery of new biocompounds from identification to potential applications of the compounds or their source organisms.
The organisms used as examples are Finnish boreal forest fungi, e.g. wood-degrading, litter-decomposing or mycorrhizal fungi. The course consists of lectures, laboratory demonstrations and a field trip on isolation, identification and characterization of micro-organisms, how they can be cultivated in laboratory as pure cultures, how their biotechnologically interesting enzymes and secondary metabolites can be detected and purified, how the metabolites and enzymes are analysed using biochemical and molecular biology tools, how fungal enzymes are applied to degrade environmental pollutants, and how fungal metabolites can be studied for their potential use in medication.
The course gives readiness to students to implement similar projects (e.g. as Master's thesis) and prepares students to work in companies or research institutes in similar projects for search of biotechnological resources in nature. The course includes a symposium where speakers from national and international research institutes, financing agencies and private companies will present their current perspectives on forest biotechnology.
During the course, oral presentations and short reports on selected topics will be prepared. The course is intended for master's level and PhD students with their main study subject on e.g. biotechnology, microbiology, mycology, soil biology, plant biology, forest pathology, or forest ecology.