546-0359/01 – Basics of Biotechnology (ZB)

Target competence on the basis of new knowledge and its application in problem solving, observation, experiments and communication: - to characterize differences in the structure of cells and live organisms, to be well informed about the natural systems and to understand phylogenetic relations of the individual groups, to learn about and to term characteristic organisms of the individual taxons and to determine their significance - to apply the gained knowledge in dealing with practical tasks in seminars, to consider the consequences of a phenomenon from the environmental, health as well as economic points of view and to justify the significance of new biological information for the society - ability of independent solution of set tasks, to observe and objectively record experiment results, to document observation in the form of diagrams and charts with legends, to adhere to safety regulations when working with biological material and technical instruments - ability to work with technical texts, to master specialist terminology, to synthetically evaluate data acquired in dealing with tasks in seminars, to defend an opinion of a biological problem solution in a discussion

The course focuses on clarifying the role of microorganisms in biotechnologies in wastewater treatment. Students gain information on the morphology and physiology of non-cellular organisms, basic groups of microorganisms, their role in the nature and mutual relations of microbial populations with an overview of fundamental pathogenic as well as non-pathogenic strains of microorganisms. Some lectures are dedicated to a practical utilization of microorganisms in industrial biotechnologies and their role in the formation and protection of the environment.

MOAT, Albert G., John W. FOSTER a Michael P. SPECTOR. Microbial Physiology. New York: Wiley-Liss, 2002. 714 s. ISBN 978-0-471-39483-9