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- 3 February 2014
(5 days)
Engineering Biology through Molecular Microbial Ecology
[ Book online ]
Newcastle University is a world leader in Engineering Biology through Microbial Ecology. The purpose of this course is to get the latest generation of tools in molecular microbial ecology into the hands of engineers. Molecular microbial ecology has the power to revolutionise our ability to monitor and design biological engineered systems such as water and wastewater treatment or soil bioremediation. Moreover the costs of the associated sequencing technology are dropping exponentially.
This course will give delegates an understanding of how the tools work, their advantages and disadvantages and, crucially, how they can be used in design and monitoring. The delegates will get hands on experience with classical molecular methods such as fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH), quantitative PCR (QPCR) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), and next generation sequencing technologies (454 sequencing) including crucial data de-noising and analysis.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of the course, delegates will be able to:
- understand the conceptual background and basis for the tools and their applications in engineered biological systems for monitoring and design, be they based in monitoring or design;
- quantify specific microbial communities in treatment plants using FISH or QPCR;
- prepare and analyse a DGGE gel;
- extract nucleic acid and despatch for 454 sequencing retrieve, denoise and analyse the results;
- relate the results to operation and design based ecological theory.
Course Outline
- Core concepts: ecology phylogeny, biochemical tools
- Core technologies: FISH, DGGE, QPCR, 454 sequencing
- Wet Lab session: FISH, DGGE, QPCR, 454 sequencing
- Data Analysis: 454 denoising, bionumerics, relevant statistics
- Application: trouble shooting
- Application: ecological theory and design
Presenters
School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences
- Dr Russell Davenport (Course Leader)
- Prof Tom Curtis
- Prof David Graham
- Dr Neil Gray
- Dr Matthew Wade
Fees
- Engineering Biology through Molecular Microbial Ecology
- £1125.00
We offer a 30 percent discount on this course to full time students and to Newcastle University staff.
The course fee includes tuition, course materials, lunch and refreshments.
Formal assessment may be available for this Course. Assessment attracts an additional fee of £275.00, and delegates will be issued with a transcript and Certificate of Credit Achieved.
Owing to visa restrictions the assessment option is not available to international students outside the European Economic Area (EEA).
Academic Module Outline
This course is also delivered as a Module (code CEG8109) on at least one of the School's Masters programmes, the majority of which can be studied part time, making them suitable for those in employment. Delegates will attend with full and part time registered students. The Academic Module Outline is available via the University's Module Catalogue.