The Comparative physiology course introduces the students to basic principles of form and function in animals, plants and micro-organisms, with main emphasis on critical physiological mechanisms (´function´) in the adaptation to the environment and the maintenance of homeostasis. Within the section on plant physiology, emphasis will be put on the physiology of both higher plants and phytoplankton. Animal physiology will have main emphasis on the function of vertebrates, with brief discussions of invertebrate physiology in areas where they provide interesting models/questions/mechanisms. Microbial physiology addresses basic physiological processes at the cellular level and interactions with the environment. Topics are microbial transport mechanisms, responses to oxygen, extreme pH and temperature, adaptive responses to nutrient availability, signal transduction and microbial chemotaxis, energy harvesting (cellular respiration, fermentation, photosynthesis), communication at cellular level. In addition to addressing problems which are specific to the three organism groups we will seek to discuss common topics in physiology addressed across the organism groups.
Examples of topics:
The course is given in the spring term and counts 10 study points. The course consists of 32 lectures (16 double lectures) and experimental laboratory classes. Lectures will focus on the main physiological processes in relation to the environment (adaptation) and the processes involved in the maintenance of homeostasis.
Experimental practical classes form an integral part of the Comparative physiology course. Students are required to write a laboratory journal which will be assessed and count in the final grade.
After completing this course the student should
have gained basic knowledge in a selected range of practical laboratory techniques used in the studies of physiological processes in animals, plants and micro-organisms
BIO100, BIO101, BIO102, KJEM110, KJEM130
BIO103 og MOL100 tas parallellt med BIO104.