Cursus Métiers de l'Enseignement en Sciences de la Vie et de la Terre (Teaching Professions in Life and Earth Sciences)

This is a cross-disciplinary L2 SV course designed to provide Biology students with a basic knowledge of how plants function, enabling them to understand current issues in plant agro-sciences.

The following basic notions of Plant Physiology / Functional Biology will be studied: 

essential experimental approaches: plant transgenesis, direct and reverse genetics

basics of autotrophy

mechanisms underlying the main stages in angiosperm development: meristem function, floral transition, fertilization.

auxin, a major hormone in plant development and response to the abiotic environment

Practical work sessions will enable students to manipulate the regulation of water nutrition in plants and analyze their mineral nutrition using various biochemical assays (flame photometry, spectrophotometry). 

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EU description (max 10 lines):

The aim of this course is to help students understand how to measure variation in biology, and how it can be represented. It is based on concrete examples drawn from various disciplines in biology (ecology, developmental biology, evolution, genetics, physiology) and gives the statistical tools for measuring this variation and the graphical methods for representing it. The statistical concepts of sampling, inference, distribution, central tendency, dispersion, distribution function, parameters, confidence intervals and dependence between variables for different types of variables (binomial, discrete, continuous) are explained with the help of practical exercises based on biological problems.

Competencies targeted by the EU (see competency framework):

- Descriptive analytical tools in biology, introduction to biostatistics through the analysis of biological patterns

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This course brings together three complementary and fundamental disciplines in the earth sciences: sedimentology, tectonics and cartography. The different types of sedimentary rock will be taught in detail in order to interpret their formation context and associated processes. Ductile and brittle tectonic objects will also be covered at different scales, in order to establish their formation context, particularly in terms of stress regimes. Practical work on samples will be carried out in parallel to enable students to develop their observation and drawing skills, and to make the most of the rich collections available in the department. Finally, an introduction to reading and working with geological maps (diagrams, cross-sections) will be provided, applying the notions of sedimentology and tectonics previously acquired. The aim of this course is to enable students to outline the geological history of a given region.

Hourly volumes:

• CM : 12
• TD : 3
• TP: 21

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This UE is the complementary concrete application of the UE Description of variability 1 (HAV312B).

The construction and analysis of data sets is carried out with the help of practical exercises in R software, in parallel with the practical exercises, as well as obtaining graphs and numerical parameters to characterize the samples and their variability.

Competencies targeted by the EU (see competency framework):

- Descriptive analytical tools in biology, introduction to biostatistics through the analysis of biological patterns

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This course provides an introduction to the general concepts of scientific ecology: levels of organization, measurement and conservation of biodiversity, biogeography, biotic and abiotic factors in the distribution and dynamics of biodiversity. It also provides an understanding of the methods used in scientific ecology: the value of experimentation, reflection on the construction of a protocol, data analysis, oral and written reports of experiments, etc.

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This course covers the theoretical concepts of plant biology, using the spermatophyte group as a model. It aims to define the notions and specific vocabulary of morphology, anatomy, reproduction and biological cycles.

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The EU aims to describe the morpho-anatomical characteristics of the major organizational plans of metazoans found in present and past faunas, and to explain their origin and the dynamics of their appearance. It thus develops a vision of organisms based on paleontology and zoology. It will focus on the origin of metazoans and the main divisions, diploblastic and triploblastic, as well as basic notions of phylogenetic positioning and relationships between taxa (mono- and paraphylly, evolutionary convergence, etc.). The course is classically divided into lectures, tutorials aimed primarily at illustrating and supporting aspects of taxon biodiversity, and practical work in sessions aimed at acquiring skills, particularly and necessarily in dissection.

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Objectives : Comparative study of major physiological functions in animals in relation to their environment. Study of structures and functions at various levels of integration, from the organism to the molecule.

Models covered: mammals compared with other vertebrate models (teleosts....) and invertebrates (insects, crustaceans, molluscs, etc.).

Description : This course covers some of the major physiological functions (respiration, nutrition, excretion and hydro-mineral regulation), as well as basic immunology and regulatory systems (nervous system and chemical communication). In addition to lectures, students will work in groups on various topics proposed by the teaching staff. They will present the topics in the form of lectures and synthesize the key points to be retained in the form of a written summary. Practical and practical work will also be offered to illustrate the lectures.

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This course is a continuation of the L2 S3 course, which focuses on describing the morpho-anatomical characteristics of the major organizational plans of metazoans found in present and past faunas, and on explaining their origin and the dynamics of their appearance, through the acquisition of skills in paleontology and zoology. In S4, the main focus will be on the major subdivisions within protostomian organisms such as lophotrochozoa (annelids, mollusks, brachiopods, etc.) and ecdysozoa (arthropods, nematodes, etc.), with emphasis on their phylogenetic relationships and their socio-economic importance and impact. The course is classically divided into lectures and tutorials, mainly aimed at illustrating and supporting aspects of taxon biodiversity, and practical work in sessions aimed at acquiring skills, in particular and necessarily through the performance of certain dissections.

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The aim of this course is to introduce the concepts and tools needed to observe and describe minerals and magmatic and metamorphic rocks, and to understand their genesis. The course begins with an introduction to the concepts of mineralogy (crystallography, crystallochemistry) and the tools needed to identify the constituent minerals of magmatic and metamorphic rocks. You will then study the structure and nature of the mantle, as well as the processes involved from magma formation to the eruption of magmatic rocks: partial melting processes, crystallization, crustal assimilation, magmatic mixing. You'll learn to distinguish the different magmatic series by their chemical composition and physical properties. The link between eruptive processes, volcanic hazards and risks will also be discussed. The third part introduces the main variables (pressure, temperature, time) and the different geodynamic contexts of metamorphism. We'll look at the different metamorphic facies, structures and textures of metamorphic rocks, and you'll learn to recognize mineral reactions and interpret them in terms of metamorphic evolution.

The coupled study of magmatic and metamorphic rocks will provide the basis for understanding issues related to the geodynamics of the inner Earth, geochemical cycles, mineral resources...

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The aim of this course is to understand evolutionary processes on both micro- and macro-evolutionary scales.

Using examples, manipulations and accessible modeling, the aim of the lessons is to present, in a concrete and quantitative way, the effects of the 4 evolutionary forces operating on the scale of individuals and populations (mutation, migration, selection and drift). The integration of these micro-evolutionary processes on larger time scales (e.g. differentiation between lineages, speciation) will then be addressed. Finally, the course will include an introduction to the tools of phylogeny (tree reading and construction), making it possible to study macro-evolutionary events (diversification, extinction) and trace changes in character states, notably by integrating fossil data.

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This is a general culture course covering a wide range of topical issues relating to human health. In the form of 1.5-hour mini-seminars, it will cover a wide range of topics, with a pragmatic yet critical approach. The many speakers in this course will bring their expertise to bear on subjects such as immunity, molecular biology, cancer, nutrition, diagnosis, vaccination, bioethics, ecology, neuroscience, emerging diseases and the therapeutic treatments of today and tomorrow. Each talk will not only provide cutting-edge knowledge and critical analysis of their subjects, but will also guide students in researching and filtering scientific information to combat misinformation. On the major human health issues of the 21st century, we'll address the real questions, the false polemics, and the solutions we can provide. 

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In this course, students will learn about the links between an individual's genetic heritage and the development of its morphology, physiology and lifestyle. The focus will be on understanding the links between the information carried by the genome and the life cycle of the organism in question, via the cellular characteristics corresponding to the expression of genetic information. These data will be placed in an evolutionary framework and will shed light on some major evolutionary transitions, particularly in metazoans.

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This course is a natural continuation of the "Description of variability" course presented in S3. Its aim is to provide the concepts and methods underpinning modern biostatistics, i.e. the quantification of randomness, which is an omnipresent issue in the life sciences. This course provides an introduction to inferential statistics: parametric and non-parametric tests, linear regression, analysis of variance. Particular attention will be paid to the conditions of application of these methods, as well as to the notions of type I and II errors, power, replication and confidence intervals. Each notion will be illustrated by analysis of real, diversified biological data, contributing to the biostatistical culture useful for training critical thinking with regard to scientific results. In addition to training in this reference language and the statistical tools it implements, practical work in R will enable students to understand what they have learned in class and apply the methods presented.

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The EU covers the different groups of plants ("algae", "cryptogams", spermatophytes), specifying for each of them their position and phylogenetic nature (mono- or paraphyletic group), their origin and their morpho-anatomical, reproductive and ecological specificities.

4 CM present different plant groups: CM1, diversity of "algae"; CM2, life cycles of "algae"; CM3, "cryptogams"; CM4, Spermatophytes.

6 TDs cover cross-disciplinary concepts based on oral or written exercises: TD1, Biological cycles; TD2, Endosymbiosis; TD3, Interactions; TD4, Adaptation; TD5, Polyploidy; TD6, Phylogeny.

6 practical sessions illustrate the concepts covered in the lectures and practical sessions using living material: TP1, "algae "1 ; TP2, "algae "2 ; TP3, "bryophytes" ; TP4, "pteridophytes" ; TP5, Gymnosperms, vegetative apparatus ; TP6, Gymnosperms, reproduction.

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This course is an extension of the "Fundamentals of Evolution" course, and introduces the main concepts of evolutionary ecology in order to understand and formalize in a simple way the evolutionary and ecological mechanisms that shape biodiversity at different scales of integration.

This course is designed as a coherent whole, with lectures, tutorials and practical work complementing each other. Notions are approached by example, then formalized using mathematical models, which are compared with experience and real data.

It will deal with population dynamics (intra- and interspecific competition), ecological niches and will detail the mechanisms of evolution and their genetic consequences on a population scale: natural selection (including sexual selection), influence of reproductive regimes, genetic drift. The practical sessions will enable students to master the mathematical formalization of notions seen in class and their simple computer modeling, as well as the analysis of data sets. Practical work will enable students to carry out and analyze in small groups 2 experiments lasting 1 month each (with report writing and oral presentation), in order to develop methodology and scientific reasoning.

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The EU is organized into five main themes:

Theme 1: Gene mapping and recombination. Notions of molecular biology related to gene expression, DNA repair and epigenetic processes.

Theme 2: Introduction to molecular evolution: Measuring the intensity of selection in genetic divergence. Molecular clock and variation in evolutionary rates created by the action of natural selection. Neutralist theory of evolution.

Theme 3: Introduction to genomics: composition and size of genomes. Importance of repeated elements. Notion of genetic linkage and local effect of selection. Influence of demography.

Theme 4: Molecular tools for biodiversity: Barcoding, eDNA, metabarcoding. Molecular taxonomy. Limitations of hybridization. Conservation applications.

Theme 5: Extranuclear heredity. Symbiosis, parasitism and co-evolution (intra-cellular: e.g. Wolbachia). Notion of extended phenotype.

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Genesis, nature and fate of deposits in sedimentary basins.

Cycle of 15 courses/lectures/debates and practical work/days

Content of integrated courses / practical / practical work, (sedimentary basins, alteration of continents,

sediment transport, detrital and carbonate environments, factors affecting sedimentation: sequence stratigraphy, diagenesis)

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This teaching unit will cover the elements needed to understand the way of life of the major groups of unicellular organisms at the basis of ecosystem functioning (viruses, bacteria, archaea and unicellular eukaryotes....). The course covers the biological organization of each type of organism, its modes of reproduction and diversity, leading to notions of ecology. We will look at the role of these microorganisms in the functioning and dynamics of ecosystems, considering the interactions that these organisms maintain with other living beings (the notion of "symbiosis" in all its variations).

Practical work will :

 - implementation of techniques for bacterial enumeration (CFU), identification of a particular strain from an environmental sample

 - highlighting the diversity of phytoplankton (unicellular algae) in aquatic environments (freshwater)

 - demonstrating the specificity of interactions between bacteria and bacteriophages

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The main objective is to learn the basics of comparative anatomy of chordates, so as to be able to compare and classify them, before tracing the key stages in their evolutionary history. Teaching is integrative in the sense that it draws on both present-day organisms and the fossil record, so as to document the evolutionary history of the clade in its entirety and in all its aspects. Anatomical, biomechanical, phylogenetic and ecomorphological approaches will be addressed in lectures to illustrate the diversity and major characteristics of chordates. Practical work (and practical sessions) will illustrate the evolution of the diversity of integuments, skeleton, musculature, digestive and respiratory systems over long time scales.

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The aim of the course is to provide an overview of Angiosperm diversity, approached through the prism of the most recent phylogenies proposed by theAngiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG). This phylogenetic framework will be supported throughout the course of the course by concrete observation of the vegetative and floral characters of a selection of taxa spread across the entire phylogeny, so as to identify the synapomorphies of the main clades, any homoplasies, and adaptations (floral biology, pollination, trophic interactions, etc.).

Students also learn about the diversity of Angiosperms from a floristic point of view, by creating a herbarium of generally Mediterranean species. They also learn how to use a flora and digital identification tools (Pl@ntNet e-Flore from Tela Botanica, etc.).

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- weather/climate differences

- atmospheric structure, radiation balance, greenhouse effect, wind circulation, depressions/anticyclones, tropical cyclones, tornadoes

- general ocean circulation (Munk, main currents, Conveyor Belt)

- geographical distribution and definition of climates

- current climate change

- global water cycle, hydrological balance, water balance, energy balance above a cultivated plot to estimate evapotranspiration

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