FMI210 Principal Environmental Toxicology
Credits (ECTS):10
Course responsible:Dag Anders Brede
Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås
Teaching language:Engelsk, norsk
Course frequency:Annually
Nominal workload:250 hours
Teaching and exam period:This course starts in Spring parallel. This course has teaching/evaluation in Spring parallel.
About this course
Learning outcome
After completing the course, the student should have a good understanding of:
Knowledge
- Basic principles in (eco)toxicology
- Different groups of toxic substances (e.g. environmental toxins and natural toxins)
- Mechanisms of action (e.g. biomarkers) and harmful effects of toxic substances from molecular and cellular level, to effects on individuals and natural populations.
- Exposure, absorption, metabolism, distribution in the body and excretion of toxic substances (e.g. metals, organic pollutants, etc.)
General Competence
- Basic understanding of central principles in toxicology with relevance for humans and the environment
- Basic principles of toxicity testing, use of biomarkers and assessment of experimental data
- Understand connections between mechanisms of action from molecular responses to damage effects at organismal and population level
- Basic understanding of chemical properties that characterize environmental toxins
- Knowledge of principles for risk assessment of environmental toxins
Lectures with student active learning provide basic theory and central principles of (eco)toxicology which form the basis for assessment of exposure, effects and risk for stress factors of natural and man-made origin. Practical exercises provide competence to set up (design) and carry out experiments, identify responses, interpret and communicate scientific data. Submitting a lab journal with a scientific presentation and discussion of the results from the exercises is a concrete learning goal. All activities will be carried out in the spring semester.
Lab exercises
1) Toxicity test model organism; Dose-response setup, statistics, data presentation and interpretation
2) The genotoxic; Quantifying DNA damage induced by ionizing radiation
3) Oxidative stress; Exposure to various metals, quantifying ROS and induction of oxidative stress
4) Use of EROD enzyme activity as a biomarker for exposure to organic pollutants.
- Guidance during laboratory exercises. Guidance in connection with the laboratory report journal. Canvas serves as information platform.
- KJM100, BIO100, STAT100.
- KJB200 or equivalent.
Overall assessment (portfolio assessment and written final exam). Labjournals are assessed together as a folder, and a common grade (A-F) is given per group.
Final grade (overall assessment) is given on the basis of a written exam (3.5 hours) at the end of the semester and the grade on the portfolio assessment). The weighting is 75% written final exam and 25% portfolio assessment.
- An external examiner approves the exam papers and evaluates a minimum of 25% of the answers.
- Attendance at lectures (80% attendance) and participation in all 4 laboratory exercises is compulsory. All compulsory activities will be specified at the beginning of the semester.
Lecture: 16 double lectures, a total of 36 h
Lab course: 4 exercises 4 hours x 2 days per exercise, a total of 32 hours
Lab report: a total of 16 h
Self-study: 170 h
- Special requirements in Science