BB816: Chemical Communication (5 ECTS)

STADS: 04007701

Level
Master's level course

Teaching period
The course is offered in the autumn semester.
1st quarter

Teacher responsible
Email: steffen@biology.sdu.dk
Email: ams@biology.sdu.dk

Additional teachers
bodil@biology.sdu.dk

Timetable
Show entire timetable
Show personal time table for this course.

Prerequisites:
None

Academic preconditions:
Bachelor degree.

Course introduction
The course is an introductory course in chemical communication and deals with the distribution and importance of chemical signals in nature. The course provides a fundamental understanding of mechanisms in communication within an organism (hormones) and between organisms (pheromones). The importance of chemical communication in chemical ecological. physiological and toxicological interrelationship will be described. The parallels between the two systems wil be accentuated by a description of the similar mechanisms, production and transfer as well as reaction on chemical stimuli.

Expected learning outcome
After taking this course the student is expected to be able to:
• describe the endocrine system for an organism
• describe production, transportation, and reception of pheromones involved in intra- and interspecific chemical communication between animals (and plants)
• explain the function of typical hormones and pheromones
• describe and explain key experiments and methods involved in research in chemical communication
• explain patho-physiology of the human endocrine system
• explain homeostasis and interaction between hormones and pheromones, and explain how feed-back mechanisms control adaptation and communication within groups of animals
• plan, carry out, analyse and interpret experiments, which focus on effect and function of hormones and pheromones

Subject overview
Chemical communication within an organism (hormones) and between organisms (pheromones). The importance of chemical communication in ecological, physiological and toxicological interrelationships will be described.

Literature
There isn't any litterature for the course at the moment.

Website
This course uses e-learn (blackboard).

Prerequisites for participating in the exam
None

Assessment and marking:
(a) Project assignment graded pass/fail. Internal marking by the teacher.
(b) Laboratory exercises graded pass/fail. Internal marking by the teacher. Lab exercises account for 2 of the total course ECTS.

Expected working hours
The teaching method is based on three phase model.

Forelæsninger: 8 timer
Eksaminatorietimer: 18 timer
Laboratorieøvelser: 16 timer
Projekt: 8 timer
Educational activities

Language
This course is taught in English, if international students participate. Otherwise the course is taught in Danish.

Course enrollment
See deadline of enrolment.

Tuition fees for single courses
See fees for single courses.