Comparative Physiology

The course provides an introduction to the principles of form and function in animals, plants, and microorganisms, with a focus on the adaptation of physiological mechanisms to the environment and the maintenance of equilibrium. The plant physiology section will emphasize both higher plants and phytoplankton. The animal physiology section will focus on vertebrates, with examples from invertebrate physiology where these can provide interesting models/questions/mechanisms. Microbial physiology addresses fundamental physiological processes at the cellular level and interactions with the environment. In addition to addressing questions specific to the three groups of organisms, larger topics within physiology will be discussed. Topics that will be covered include:

• Temperature.   
• Photosynthesis (oxygenic/anoxygenic).   
• Nutrition/energy harvesting.   
• Transport mechanisms.   
• Water/ion balance, excretion.   
• Homeostasis, environmental adaptation.   
• Gas exchange, respiration, and circulation.   
• Signal transmission (between cells, hormone/nervous system).   
• Sensing (visual, chemical, sound, and vibrations).

The lectures will focus on the main processes within physiology in relation to the environment in plants, animals, and microorganisms, and the processes involved in maintaining homeostasis.

After completing the course, students should have the following learning outcomes defined in knowledge, skills, and general competence:

Knowledge:

• Can derive and explain fundamental principles of form, structure, and function in animals, plants, and microorganisms.   
• Can describe basic concepts related to central physiological processes in animals, plants, and microorganisms.   
• Can explain and compare critical physiological mechanisms ("function") in adaptation to the environment and homeostasis in animals, plants, and microorganisms.

Skills:

• Can perform basic laboratory techniques used to study physiological processes in animals, plants, and microorganisms.   
• Can handle data, present results, and discuss own results in relation to theory.   
• Can organize and create an oral presentation following the IMRAD format (Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, and Discussion) based on own results.

General Competence:

• Understands the principles of the IMRAD format and can use this independently in own presentations from lab exercises.   
• Can collaborate on conducting an experiment, data handling, data analysis, and interpretation.   
• Can reflect and demonstrate critical thinking regarding own results and findings.   
• Can act responsibly in the laboratory and adhere to the applicable guidelines.

Spring.

The course has a limited number of places and is part of the teaching admission at the MN faculty. Students who have the course as a compulsory subject in their degree have first priority for the course. The deadline to register for the course is Wednesday in week 2. You will receive a response on whether you have been allocated a place in the course on Studentweb no later than Monday in week 3.

Attendance at the first lecture/orientation meeting is mandatory, and you risk losing your place if you do not attend. If you are unable to attend the first lecture/orientation meeting, you must contact the study section by email: studie.bio@uib.no. The time for the first lecture/orientation meeting can be found in the schedule under "Resources" at the top right or on Mitt UiB.