The cours aims to give an overview of molecular methods currently used in ecological and biodiversity research, including hands-on experience for a number of techniques that are often used. The students will learn which methods can be applied and what type of results can be obtained for different study objectives. They will be able to compare these methods and give advantages and disadvantages.
Main themes
The different molecular methods (protein electrophoresis, DNA hybridization, restriction analyses, PCR-based methods) and their application in answering ecological questions will be explained in courses and illustrated by reading recent articles and by invited speakers who will tell about their own work. The practical work will be performed on material collected during the field work period at the beginning of the year.
Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)
Precursorycourses A basic knowledge of population genetics
Evaluation Lab reports, written assignments
Support Lecture notes, scientific articles