This minor in ‘Biology - Adaptive Organisms’ gives you an introduction in all kinds of topics related to the adaptive processes in plants and animals. Next to that this minor gives you a thorough background in molecular biology. More information on a specific course described below, can be found in the online course guide.

With this minor of 30 ECTS you can be admitted to the Master’s in Biology. This counts especially for the specialisation Adaptive Organisms. This minor will count as Pre-Master's programme in this case.

You will follow three courses per quarter: one course on Monday/Tuesday, one course on Wednesday and one course on Thursday/Friday. In the schedule below you see that you can choose between two courses on Mon/Tue in quarter 3.

 

QUARTER 3

Monday/Tuesday

• Biotechnology of Plants (NWI-BB032C)

or

• Plant Genome Analysis (NWI-BB043B)

 

Wednesday

• Statistics 2 (NWI-BB093)
You need background in Statistics 1. If you don't have that choose the alternative course.

or

Introduction to R Programming (NWI-BB095) – Self study course

Thursday/Friday

• Animal Adaptation Physiology (NWI-BB020C)

 

QUARTER 4

Monday/Tuesday

• Endocrinology (NWI-BB048B)

 

Wednesday

• Philosophy & Ethics of Science (NWI-FFIL100)

or

Introduction to R Programming (NWI-BB095) – Self study course

 

Thursday/Friday

• Population and Evolutionary Biology (NWI-BB087)

 

Biotechnology of Plants (NWI-BB032C): This course aims at providing insight in the theory and practice of plant molecular biology and biotechnology. The goals and tools for this field of plant science are explained using published literature and laboratory experiments, which will make clear how and why GMOs are constructed and produced. The last week offers the possibility to debate with lecturers specialist in their field with the ultimate goal to learn about advantages, disadvantages and risks of GMOs release in the environment, so to formulate a personal educated opinion about these issues.

Plant Genome Analysis (NWI-BB043B): This course aims to give students an insight in the methods used and results obtained in functional genomics. We will focus on the question: How is genomics being used in current plant breeding efforts?

Statistics 2: For this course you need background in Statistics 1. If you don't have that contact us for an alternative course. 

Keywords are:

Multifactorial and multivariate procedures
Bayesian statistics
Meta-analysis
Power analysis and sample size calculations

Introduction to R Programming (NWI-BB095): This course provides a gentle and stepwise introduction to the world of R programming. After completion of this course, you will master the basics of programming in R. In particular, you can

1. Create, load and manipulate data
2. Perform exploratory data analysis
3. Visualize your data in attractive graphs
4. Create efficient code by applying functions to series of objects
5. Find help and resources to take your coding skills to a next level.

Animal Adaptation Physiology (NWI-BB020C): 

• Understand the concept of adaptations and their relation to evolution
• Evaluate true adaptations from a selection of animal traits
• Link adaptations to environmental factors and vice versa
• Explain how an adaptation is connected to the stress axis
• Analyze and evaluate the adaptations described in (peer-reviewed scientific) papers
• Design (hypothetical) experiments to investigate adaptations
• Synthesize and apply this knowledge and clearly explain it to fellow students

Endocrinology: Within this course you'll learn all about human physiology, endocrine glands, synthesis pathways of different types of hormones and you'll be able to use the acquired knowledge to explain simple clinical cases (pathologies, diagnostics and therapies).

Philosophy & Ethics of Science: This course addresses in an integrated manner philosophical and bioethical aspects of bioscience. It provides a window for exploring the philosophical, ethical and societal dimensions of scientific research in biology and the life sciences.

or

Introduction to R Programming (NWI-BB095): This course provides a gentle and stepwise introduction to the world of R programming. After completion of this course, you will master the basics of programming in R. In particular, you can

1. Create, load and manipulate data
2. Perform exploratory data analysis
3. Visualize your data in attractive graphs
4. Create efficient code by applying functions to series of objects
5. Find help and resources to take your coding skills to a next level.

Population and Evolutionary Biology: This course, which is positioned on the interface of different scientific disciplines, will give an integrated picture of mechanisms and processes contributing to population viability by dealing with the different aspects, both in theory and in hands-on greenhouse, lab and computer projects.

See the learning goals of each individual course in the online course guide for more detailed information.

Third or fourth year of the Bachelor's of Applied Sciences Universities. In general all natural sciences course programmes, such as Applied Biology (Toegepaste Biologie), Second degree teacher in Biology, Microbiology, Plant Sciences, Animal Sciences.

If you are not sure about your eligibility for this minor please contact us.

See the literature (mandatory or optional) of each individual course in the online course guide.

The courses of quarter three are scheduled from January 29 – April 5, 2024. Courses of the fourth quarter are scheduled from April 8 – July 12, 20234

See the schedule of each individual course in the online course guide for further details.

For every course there is a first exam and a resit opportunity in the same semester. 

See the information in the online course guide for more details about exams / products of each individual course.