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| BOTA0209-2 | Biology of algae and fungi | |||||
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| Duration : | 15h Th, 30h Pr, 1d FW | |||||
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| Holder(s) : | Vincent Demoulin | |||||
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| Course contents : | A first lecture exposes biochemical and ultrastructural characters whose variation among great groups of algae anf fungi makes that under an often simple morphology those organisms display a much greater diversity of organisation than higher plants or animals. One lecture is devoted to blue-green algae, whose procaryotic structure places in a peculiar position ("cyanobacteria") but whose ecological rôle is similar to that of other algae. Main themes: importance in present and Precambrian ecosystems, nitrogen fixation, toxins. Three lectures are devoted to eucaryotic algae, mainly red, brown and green, as well as the main planctonic ones (dinoflagellates, diatoms...). Main themes: evolution of eucaryotes (origin, loss or gain of chloroplasts, origin of higher plants), ecological and economical (mucilages) of benthic algae, primary production and toxic blooms of planctonic ones, symbiosis of dinoflagellates... Three lectures are devoted to the introduction to the fungal way of live and the main group, the Ascomycetes. Among those a special attention is given to yeasts as technological and scientific tools (small fully sequenced genome, transformations, fermentations). Other themes: parasites and symbionts (lichens), mycotoxins and antibiotics. One lecture is devoted to Basidiomycetes, insisting on their importance as mycorhizal symbionts or wood-rotters (ecological importance, destruction of timber, biotechnological potential of the capacity to metabolize lignin). One lecture is devoted to other fungi with emphasis on Mucorales (moulds) and Endogonales (endomycorhizae), Oomycetes (economical and historical importance) and Dictyostelium (tool of molecular biology). Practical teaching is based on the collection of fungi in the surrounding of the Botanical Institute, their observation in the laboratory and attempts at cultivation. Algae from the pond near the Institute are treated in the same way. A one day excursion allows to observe macrofungi in especially rich locations (in the Famenne mainly) and visit a mushroom-farm. | |||||
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| Course objective : | The aim is to make students familiar with the major organisms of algal and fungal types which present an interest for general biology, either through their peculiarity in morphology, ultrastructure or biochemistry, or their ecological importance, their phylogenetic position or economical impact. By defining the way of life (ecological and physiological peculiarities) and evolutionary position of the studied organisms, emphasis is put on advantages and inconveniences they present as experimental or biotechnological tools. | |||||
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| Prerequisites : | A minimal knowledge of general biology and biochemistry. | |||||
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| Workshops : | Laboratory courses number five half-days (two for algae, two for fungi, one for lichens) in laboratories located at the -1 floor of the Botanical Institute B.22 in the Sart Tilman campus. Fresh material is collected in the surroundings fo the building, located near the forest, at the beginning of the course. | |||||
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| Organization : | Assitance to the lectures is important for they are illustrated by a large number of colour slides. For laboratory courses one needs A4 paper, pencil, eraser and a pocket lens 10-15x. | |||||
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| Written notes : | Full notes ("Les champignons, notions de base" by G. Castillo and V. Demoulin) are available for fungi. Partial notes are distributed for algae. Various books from the Botany Library are presented for information to students interested by further data, in the present of future, but they are not necessary to understand the course. | |||||
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| Assessment : | Final note is made up for one third by appreciations of the laboratory reports and two third by the oral examination. | |||||
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| Contacts : | Teacher: V. Demoulin, professeur ordinaire, Institut de Botanique, B.22 (P.70) in the Sart Tilman campus. Tel. 04/366.38.53, e-mail: V. Demoulin@ulg.ac.be If no answer on the phone, message possible after 8 ringings. Assistant: G. Castillo, logisticien, e-mail: G.Castillo@ulg.ac.be | |||||
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ULg : Students and Studies Administration - Academic Affairs
Contact : Monique Marcourt, direction A.E.E.
Date of data : 27/02/2006
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