Intended Level of Study
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
180 credits
Duration
3 years
Training Structure
College of Sciences, College of Pharmacy
Language(s) of Instruction
French
Overview
The Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences is a broad-based program that covers all disciplines related to the study of living organisms: animal and plant biology, cellular and molecular biology, developmental biology, genetics, plant and animal physiology, infectious diseases, immunology, ecology, evolutionary biology, etc.
The theory is supplemented by laboratory work (biochemistry, bacteriology, animal and plant physiology, in vitro cultures, dissections, etc.) and/or fieldwork (sampling, etc.).
The curriculum also includes a methodology component: scientific methods and reasoning, data analysis, scientific report writing, observational drawings, and learning to use techniques and tools (such as a microscope).
Subjects that are complementary and essential to the training of any scientist are also taught: mathematics, physics, chemistry, and computer science as tools for biologists; Earth sciences; and general and scientific English.
The program begins in the first year (L1) as part of a single “Life Sciences – Health, Environment” (SVSE) track, with options that allow students to customize their academic path. Specialization tracks are then offered starting in the second year (L2) or in the third year (L3).
The bachelor’s degree program, which lasts 3 years, includes lectures, tutorials (TD), laboratory work (TP), and, depending on the track, an internship organized as a course unit (UE). Each teaching unit is assessed through continuous assessment and/or a final exam at the end of the semester. Completion of the bachelor’s degree program earns 180 credits.
Graduates will be able to work in a variety of fields, including agribusiness, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, the environment, research, education, and more.
Objectives
With a broad, multidisciplinary focus , the Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences is designed to provide a comprehensive education in the field of life sciences. The program combines both foundational and theoretical coursework with training in methodological tools.
The SV bachelor's degree program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of biology. It focuses on the environment, biodiversity, biomedical research, plant health and improvement, and an understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of life.
Specializing in a specific track allows students to focus on different areas of biology.
Expertise and Skills
- Subject-specific skills:
- Apply fundamental concepts and technologies from molecular biology, biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, microbiology, physiology, immunology, classification of living organisms, developmental biology, and evolutionary biology to address a problem in the field or analyze a research paper or presentation.
- Apply fundamental concepts of ecology and ecosystems to contextualize biological and physiological issues.
- Understand, identify, and independently carry out the various steps of an experimental process.
- Identify, select, and apply a combination of analytical tools (common techniques, instrumentation) suitable for characterizing organisms (from biomolecules to individuals in all their complexity) and their functioning at various levels of analysis (intracellular metabolism, biology and physiology of complex organisms, interactions between individuals and groups, and interactions with the environment).
- Interpret and analyze experimental data to explore possible models.
- Validate a model by comparing its predictions with experimental results and assess the limits of its validity.
- Identify sources of error to calculate the uncertainty in an experimental result.
- Manipulate fundamental mechanisms at the microscopic scale, model macroscopic phenomena, and link a macroscopic phenomenon to microscopic processes.
- Use data acquisition and analysis software with a critical mindset.
- Apply concepts and tools from mathematics, physics, chemistry, and computer science to address issues in the life sciences.
- Identify specific regulations and implement key preventive measures related to health and safety.
- Pre-professional skills:
- Understand one's role and mission within an organization in order to adapt and take initiative.
- Identify the process of producing, disseminating, and applying knowledge.
- Adhere to the principles of ethics, professional conduct, and environmental responsibility.
- Work both as part of a team and independently and responsibly to advance a project.
- Identify and describe the professional fields that may be related to the skills and knowledge acquired in the specialization, as well as the possible paths to entering those fields.
- Describe and highlight one’s identity, skills, and career goals in the context of a specific situation.
- Take a step back from a situation, evaluate yourself, and question your own assumptions in order to learn.
- Cross-functional and language skills:
- Use standard digital tools and IT security policies to collect, process, produce, and disseminate information, as well as to collaborate internally and externally.
- Identify and select various specialized resources to research a topic.
- Analyze and synthesize data for use.
- Develop an argument using critical thinking.
- Be able to use the various registers of written and spoken French with ease.
- Be able to easily use written and oral comprehension and expression in at least one modern foreign language (scientific English is strongly recommended).
International Training
Educational programs with formalized international partnershipsInternational Dimension
It is possible to complete part of your studies abroad through the ERASMUS program and various other programs (such as ERASMUS-MUNDUS, BCI (Quebec), etc.). To do so, you must plan ahead and prepare your application carefully.
Organization
Knowledge Assessment
Continuous or final assessment, depending on the course unit.
Success rate:
40–50% in the first year, 60–80% in the second year (depending on the program), and 80–90% in the third year (depending on the program).
Special Features
Accommodations are available for high-level student-athletes, students with disabilities, or students who work while pursuing their studies; see the FDS website for more details.
Program
Thefirst year, L1 Life Sciences, Health, and Environment (SVSE) track, is a core curriculum year during which students study the fundamental subjects necessary for learning biology (basic concepts in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics), as well as scientific method and reasoning. Students can choose electives (one in the first semester, two in the second) to customize their academic path. It is also possible to enroll in programs that prepare students for health-related fields of study (medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, dentistry, etc.—L1 LAS) or for entrance exams to agricultural or veterinary schools (PCAV track).
In thesecond year (L2), students can either maintain a broad-based approach to biology, with options to begin a specialization, or enroll in a specialized track in scientific ecology and evolutionary biology (the BE track).
In thethird year, students can specialize by choosing one of the eight tracks offered by the Biology and Mechanisms of Life (Bio-MV) department: animal physiology and neuroscience (PAN track), biochemistry (Bioch track), molecular biology and cell biology (BMC track), microbiology (Mic track), plant biology and agroenvironment (BiPAgro), biotechnology, biotraceability, and bioresources (BBB track), or teaching professions (BioME track), as well as the SVT-CME track within the ST bachelor’s degree program.
The list of courses for each academic year and portal is available on the Faculty of Sciences website.
Note: There are enrollment limits for the programs and for certain elective courses, due to our capacity constraints (staff and facilities).
It is also possible to take additional course units (up to a maximum of 36 ECTS per semester) or, in some cases, to have involvement in a student organization recognized as an additional course unit.
Select a program
Second Year of the Bachelor's Degree Program
Junior Year
Cellular and Molecular Biology 2
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course in the third semester (S3) allows students to consolidate and expand upon the fundamentals of molecular biology and cell biology they acquired in their first year (L1).
Molecular Biology Section: The molecular and structural foundations of nucleic acids will be explored and examined in depth to understand the physicochemical properties of nucleic acids—which open up various avenues for technological applications—and the molecular mechanisms underlying the key processes in molecular biology, such as DNA replication, gene transcription into mRNA, and the translation of mRNA into proteins. These processes, illustrated by experimental evidence derived from various historical studies, will be studied in depth in prokaryotes. Comparisons with eukaryotes will also be discussed subsequently. The molecular mechanisms of DNA repair will also be described and explored.
Cell Biology Section: This section will cover the major concepts of membrane-bound and cytosolic protein complex formation, particularly in the context of cellular signaling pathways. The concepts of ligands, receptors, scaffolding proteins, signaling enzymes, intracellular second messengers, and response kinetics will be presented. Techniques in biochemistry and cell biology used to detect the presence and localization of proteins in cells and tissues will be discussed.
Fundamentals of Plant Physiology
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course is a cross-disciplinary course in the second year of the SV program designed to provide biology students with a fundamental understanding of how plants function, enabling them to grasp the current challenges in plant agricultural sciences.
The following basic concepts of plant physiology and functional biology will be studied:
Key experimental approaches: plant transgenesis, forward and reverse genetics
Fundamentals of Autotrophy
mechanisms underlying the major stages of angiosperm development: meristem function, floral transition, and fertilization.
auxin, a key hormone involved in plant development and their response to the abiotic environment
The laboratory sessions will allow students to experiment with regulating plant water uptake and to analyze plant mineral nutrition using various biochemical assays (flame photometry, spectrophotometry).
Description of Variability 1
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Course Description (max 10 lines):
The objective of this learning unit is to help students understand how to measure variation in biology and how it can be represented. It draws on concrete examples from various fields of biology (ecology, developmental biology, evolution, genetics, physiology) and provides the statistical tools for measuring this variation and the graphical methods for representing it. Statistical concepts such as 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 through tutorials based on biological problems.
Competencies targeted by the EU (see competency framework):
- Descriptive analytical tools in biology; an introduction to biostatistics through the analysis of biological patterns
Microbiology 1
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course covers the fundamentals of microbiology. It will explore the structures of microorganisms—both prokaryotes and eukaryotes—as well as viruses. It will provide an overview of the diversity of these microorganisms and describe their modes of reproduction.
For bacteria, the trophic types and factors influencing growth will be discussed, along with the study of growth in non-renewable media. Genetics and horizontal gene transfer among bacteria will be addressed.
Several eukaryotic microorganisms will be studied: their habitats, lifestyles, ecological roles or parasitism, as well as their modes of development.
In virology, the main viral replication cycles will be detailed, and modes of transmission and the concept of viral pathogenesis will be discussed. The principles of antiviral vaccination and antiviral treatments will be presented and illustrated using concrete examples.
The principles of antiviral vaccination and antiviral treatments will be presented and illustrated using concrete examples.
Laboratory sessions will provide an introduction to sterile handling techniques for microorganisms, bacterial counting, and conjugation.
Fundamentals of Animal Physiology and Immunology
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This module is designed to enable students to acquire:
Basic Concepts in Physiology: The concept of homeostasis; levels of organization in the human body; compartments of the internal environment; study of the endocrine system; acid-base and water-mineral balances; anatomical and functional studies of the central and peripheral nervous systems.
Basic Concepts in Immunology:
General overview of the immune system; study of T and B lymphocytes and antigen-presenting cells; study of antimicrobial immunity and the complement system.
Biochemistry, 3rd Semester
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course enables students to consolidate the fundamentals of biochemistry acquired in the first year of undergraduate studies by approaching the discipline through a cross-disciplinary study of enzymes involved in cellular metabolism, particularly glycolysis. Several areas of biochemistry will be covered: the fundamentals of Michaelis-Menten enzyme kinetics and a description of the metabolic reactions involved in glycolysis. Finally, the technical aspects will be addressed through the presentation and analysis of techniques used to measure enzyme activity and to purify, quantify, and detect proteins.
Chemistry for Biologists 2
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This second course unit in general chemistry aims to consolidate and deepen students’ understanding of reactions in aqueous solution, particularly those involving the formation of metal complexes. The principles of thermodynamics will be introduced and applied to the study of chemical equilibria of biological interest. Rather than presenting the material using a mathematical framework that would require a much greater number of class hours, students will be asked to understand the physical meaning of these principles and the main thermodynamic functions, as well as their applications to chemical systems—often of biological interest. In particular, resting membrane potentials and the use of pH-potential diagrams in biology will be covered.
Students will work through course materials (written and audio) in advance of certain lectures and tutorials so that the in-person instruction during lectures and tutorials will enable them to actively participate in the program, understand the concepts presented, and acquire the necessary skills.
English S3
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Fluid Biophysics
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The first part (about one-third) of the module will cover (biological) processes whose temporal evolution is described by an exponential law (growth or decline).
Radioactivity will be discussed as an example of such a process and for its applications in the fields of biology, health, and the environment (dating, tracing, etc.).
The second part (about two-thirds) of the module will introduce the concepts of fluids and pressure, and will present the laws of hydrostatics (the fundamental law of fluid statics, Archimedes’ theorem).
Fluid dynamics will be introduced, including concepts such as flow, viscosity, sedimentation, and centrifugation, as they relate to the biology and health sector.
List of Chapters in the Module:
- Exponential variations
- Radioactivity (radioactive decay, activity)
- Fluids: definition, properties, the concept of pressure
- Hydrostatics: fundamental law of fluid statics, Archimedes' theorem.
- Elements of Hydrodynamics: Flow, Bernoulli's Theorem
- Viscosity; Sedimentation and centrifugation
Food-Nutrition-Health
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Given that nutrition has become a focus of interest for an increasingly broad audience, the objective of this course unit is to establish dietary guidelines based on a scientific approach.
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of food and nutrition, covering nutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals), nutritional needs, and the various food groups. It will also cover certain food processing methods and technologies.
Biotechnology and the Challenge of Sustainable Agriculture
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course is offered to second-year Life Sciences students who wish to explore or gain a deeper understanding of how biotechnology can help address current and future challenges related to the sustainable production of agricultural and agri-food resources.
Humans use the properties of photosynthetic organisms and microorganisms to obtain and transform a wide range of resources and services: food for humans and livestock, therapeutic molecules, construction materials, and more. This use depends on natural conditions, and its overall impact is likely to affect the environment in turn—for example, through the extraction or degradation of limited and/or non-renewable resources (water, soil, etc.). Therefore, to ensure that this production of resources is sustainable, its organization (the concept of agronomy) must incorporate an understanding of these impacts and be based on knowledge of the properties of plants and microorganisms to address these challenges. The development and use of new biotechnologies in the fields of applied genetics and plant physiology, the use of microorganisms, and the beneficial or harmful interactions between these microorganisms and plants play a major role in these sustainable agronomy strategies.
Biochemistry
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Fall
Animal Behavior - Ethology
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The goal of this course is to understand animal behavior in an integrative manner, in light of Tinbergen’s four “whys”: from its ontogenesis and neurobiological causes to its evolution and biological functions. In addition to historical, conceptual, and methodological insights, students will be guided to understand the diversity of traits involved as well as the variety of scientific approaches and questions associated with them. Through various examples, this course will highlight the diversity of disciplines that study animal behavior—including neuroscience, ethology, and behavioral ecology—and will help students make informed decisions about continuing their studies in appropriate fields such as animal physiology and neuroscience, evolutionary biology and ecology, or other related areas.
ASTRE's Scientific Approach to the Ecological Transition
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Fall
English S4
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
BioInfo
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
1- Linux Basics (1.5 hours lecture + 3 hours lab): Basic commands for navigating Linux and understanding the logic of this language. Short exercises in extracting information using Bash/shell. Material covered for the analysis of alignment files.
2- Databases (3 hours of lectures + 4.5 hours of lab sessions): become familiar with the main bibliographic and biological databases (NCBI, Ensembl, Galaxie, etc.). Learn how to perform relevant and effective searches, analyze and sort data, and describe the various formats
3- Sequence Analysis (1.5 hours of lecture + 4.5 hours of lab): Sequence alignment and comparison, with a brief introduction to phylogenetics (dot plot, BLAST, etc.)
Cellular and Molecular Biology 3
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course in the fourth semester (S4) allows students to consolidate and expand upon the fundamentals of molecular biology and cell biology they acquired in their first year (L1).
- Cell Biology: The course will cover four major topics: 1) The function of the cellular cytoskeleton, 2) Cell adhesion, 3) Protein trafficking, 4) An introduction to cell cycle regulation. Cell biology methodologies will also be presented: immunoprecipitation to detect protein interactions, fluorescence video microscopy to track the dynamics of cellular distribution, and assessment of the importance of proteins of interest in a cellular process using strategies to modulate their expression (RNA interference, overexpression).
- Molecular Biology: After gaining an understanding of the mechanisms of transcription and translation in Semester 3, we will explore the regulation of gene expression: transcriptional regulation (repressors, activators) and attenuation in prokaryotes, as well as the fundamentals of gene expression regulation mechanisms in eukaryotes.
Plant Biomolecules: Diversity and Applications
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Understand the major families of plant molecules and their properties, the biosynthetic pathways of these molecules, and the mechanisms regulating their biosynthesis in plants and microorganisms. In this module, the major families of molecules derived from plant secondary metabolism (terpenes, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins) are studied in terms of their biosynthesis in plants and the differentiation of specialized structures or cell groups. Based on this knowledge, biotechnological approaches aimed at metabolic engineering are presented. The role of these molecules in plant life is discussed, as well as their properties utilized by industry as colorants, flavorings, fragrances, medications, and biofuels. The use of natural polymers in the manufacture of industrial materials is addressed (paper pulp, rubber, plastics), and the production processes are described. Understanding the major families of plant molecules and their properties, the biosynthetic pathways of these molecules, and the mechanisms regulating their biosynthesis in plants remains a major challenge for the development of biorefineries in Europe.
Keywords: secondary metabolism, metabolic engineering, biomolecule valorization, cellular and metabolic differentiation, regulation of secondary metabolism.
Additional information:
Tours of two analytical platforms are scheduled at the Montpellier campus (1 hour and 30 minutes each)
Introduction to Evolution
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The objective of this course unit is to understand evolutionary processes at both the micro- and macro-evolutionary scales.
Using examples, hands-on activities, and accessible modeling, the course will aim to present, in a concrete and quantitative way, the effects of the four evolutionary forces operating at the individual and population levels (mutation, migration, selection, and genetic drift). The integration of these microevolutionary processes into larger timescales (e.g., lineage differentiation, speciation) will then be addressed. Finally, the course unit will include an introduction to phylogenetic tools (interpreting and constructing phylogenetic trees) that enable the study of macroevolutionary events (diversification, extinction) and the tracing of changes in character states, particularly by incorporating fossil data.
Biological Investigations
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This unit is dedicated to biomarkers. It serves as an introduction to detection and diagnostic techniques. It covers various aspects of biomarker analysis:
Molecular markers / techniques for identification through genomic analysis in medicine and agronomy.
1) The Concept of Polymorphism and Detection Techniques: RFLP / ER-Nucleic Acid Probes
2) RFLP markers and other genetic markers: SNPs, STRs.
3) Search for new molecular markers: differential screening of cDNA libraries / subtractive libraries / transcriptomics
4) Other genomic analyses of polymorphism: AFLP / DNA fingerprinting.
Identification Techniques in the Agri-Food Industry Using Immunological Methods
1) Basic Concepts in Immunological Techniques
2) Agglutination Reactions
3) Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods
Case studies of applications in the agri-food industry:
- study of the diagnostic kit for beet rhizominosis (sandwich ELISA)
- determination of ochratoxin A in cereals (competitive ELISA)
- assessment of fish freshness by histamine determination (competitive ELISA)
Biochemical identification of protein markers and other substances (metabolites)
1) Fundamentals of chromatography and the physical characterization of a spectrum (the interactions involved in each case and the solvents used to carry them out).
2) Affinity chromatography
2.1) Principle of this type of analysis
2.2) Finding the best tag for preparing a specific gel.
2.3) Their usefulness for various areas of research.
3) Study of protein-protein, protein-DNA, and other interactions…
4) HPLC, FPLC, and gas chromatography.
Physiology of Major Body Functions
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The “Major Physiological Functions” course (Semester 4) aims to describe the role and interactions of the body’s various systems that work together to maintain a constant internal environment. Students will acquire anatomical and functional knowledge of the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, and renal systems, as well as their neural and hormonal controls. Students will understand the combined action of these major systems through examples of integrative physiology and pathologies: respiratory and cardiac failure; hemorrhage; and exposure to extreme environments.
Personal and Professional Project
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Spring
Metabolic Biochemistry
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course will enable students to build on the skills they acquired in “Biochemistry S3.” It will help them understand cellular metabolism by:
-an understanding of bioenergetics in order to study the processes by which living cells transport, transmit, utilize, store, and release energy;
-the study of the catabolism and anabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, nucleotides, and amino acids, as well as the metabolic interactions between these pathways.
- a description of metabolic disorders.
Genetics 1
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
In this introductory course on genetic analysis, the objectives are to become familiar with the terminology, principles, concepts, and methods used in formal genetics, as well as their applications, particularly in human and medical genetics. This course covers the genetics of inheritance (Mendelian and non-Mendelian), quantitative genetics, and basic concepts of population genetics. Throughout the course, close connections are drawn between classical genetics and molecular genetics.
Cellular and Molecular Biology 2
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course in the third semester (S3) allows students to consolidate and expand upon the fundamentals of molecular biology and cell biology they acquired in their first year (L1).
Molecular Biology Section: The molecular and structural foundations of nucleic acids will be explored and examined in depth to understand the physicochemical properties of nucleic acids—which open up various avenues for technological applications—and the molecular mechanisms underlying the key processes in molecular biology, such as DNA replication, gene transcription into mRNA, and the translation of mRNA into proteins. These processes, illustrated by experimental evidence derived from various historical studies, will be studied in depth in prokaryotes. Comparisons with eukaryotes will also be discussed subsequently. The molecular mechanisms of DNA repair will also be described and explored.
Cell Biology Section: This section will cover the major concepts of membrane-bound and cytosolic protein complex formation, particularly in the context of cellular signaling pathways. The concepts of ligands, receptors, scaffolding proteins, signaling enzymes, intracellular second messengers, and response kinetics will be presented. Techniques in biochemistry and cell biology used to detect the presence and localization of proteins in cells and tissues will be discussed.
Fundamentals of Plant Physiology
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course is a cross-disciplinary course in the second year of the SV program designed to provide biology students with a fundamental understanding of how plants function, enabling them to grasp the current challenges in plant agricultural sciences.
The following basic concepts of plant physiology and functional biology will be studied:
Key experimental approaches: plant transgenesis, forward and reverse genetics
Fundamentals of Autotrophy
mechanisms underlying the major stages of angiosperm development: meristem function, floral transition, and fertilization.
auxin, a key hormone involved in plant development and their response to the abiotic environment
The laboratory sessions will allow students to experiment with regulating plant water uptake and to analyze plant mineral nutrition using various biochemical assays (flame photometry, spectrophotometry).
Description of Variability 1
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Course Description (max 10 lines):
The objective of this learning unit is to help students understand how to measure variation in biology and how it can be represented. It draws on concrete examples from various fields of biology (ecology, developmental biology, evolution, genetics, physiology) and provides the statistical tools for measuring this variation and the graphical methods for representing it. Statistical concepts such as 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 through tutorials based on biological problems.
Competencies targeted by the EU (see competency framework):
- Descriptive analytical tools in biology; an introduction to biostatistics through the analysis of biological patterns
Microbiology 1
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course covers the fundamentals of microbiology. It will explore the structures of microorganisms—both prokaryotes and eukaryotes—as well as viruses. It will provide an overview of the diversity of these microorganisms and describe their modes of reproduction.
For bacteria, the trophic types and factors influencing growth will be discussed, along with the study of growth in non-renewable media. Genetics and horizontal gene transfer among bacteria will be addressed.
Several eukaryotic microorganisms will be studied: their habitats, lifestyles, ecological roles or parasitism, as well as their modes of development.
In virology, the main viral replication cycles will be detailed, and modes of transmission and the concept of viral pathogenesis will be discussed. The principles of antiviral vaccination and antiviral treatments will be presented and illustrated using concrete examples.
The principles of antiviral vaccination and antiviral treatments will be presented and illustrated using concrete examples.
Laboratory sessions will provide an introduction to sterile handling techniques for microorganisms, bacterial counting, and conjugation.
Fundamentals of Animal Physiology and Immunology
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This module is designed to enable students to acquire:
Basic Concepts in Physiology: The concept of homeostasis; levels of organization in the human body; compartments of the internal environment; study of the endocrine system; acid-base and water-mineral balances; anatomical and functional studies of the central and peripheral nervous systems.
Basic Concepts in Immunology:
General overview of the immune system; study of T and B lymphocytes and antigen-presenting cells; study of antimicrobial immunity and the complement system.
Biochemistry, 3rd Semester
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course enables students to consolidate the fundamentals of biochemistry acquired in the first year of undergraduate studies by approaching the discipline through a cross-disciplinary study of enzymes involved in cellular metabolism, particularly glycolysis. Several areas of biochemistry will be covered: the fundamentals of Michaelis-Menten enzyme kinetics and a description of the metabolic reactions involved in glycolysis. Finally, the technical aspects will be addressed through the presentation and analysis of techniques used to measure enzyme activity and to purify, quantify, and detect proteins.
Chemistry for Biologists 2
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Description*: This second course unit in general chemistry aims to consolidate and deepen students’ understanding of reactions in aqueous solution, particularly those involving the formation of metal complexes. The principles of thermodynamics will be introduced and applied to the study of chemical equilibria of biological interest. Rather than presenting the material using a mathematical framework that would require a much greater number of class hours, students will be asked to understand the physical meaning of these principles and the main thermodynamic functions, as well as their applications to chemical systems—often those of biological interest. In particular, resting membrane potentials and the use of pH-potential diagrams in biology will be covered.
Students will work through course materials (written and audio) in advance of certain lectures and tutorials so that the in-person instruction during lectures and tutorials will enable them to actively participate in the program, understand the concepts presented, and acquire the necessary skills.
English S3
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Fluid Biophysics
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The first part (about one-third) of the module will cover (biological) processes whose temporal evolution is described by an exponential law (growth or decline).
Radioactivity will be discussed as an example of such a process and for its applications in the fields of biology, health, and the environment (dating, tracing, etc.).
The second part (about two-thirds) of the module will introduce the concepts of fluids and pressure, and will present the laws of hydrostatics (the fundamental law of fluid statics, Archimedes’ theorem).
Fluid dynamics will be introduced, including concepts such as flow, viscosity, sedimentation, and centrifugation, as they relate to the biology and health sector.
List of Chapters in the Module:
- Exponential variations
- Radioactivity (radioactive decay, activity)
- Fluids: definition, properties, the concept of pressure
- Hydrostatics: fundamental law of fluid statics, Archimedes' theorem.
- Elements of Hydrodynamics: Flow, Bernoulli's Theorem
- Viscosity; Sedimentation and centrifugation
Food-Nutrition-Health
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Given that nutrition has become a focus of interest for an increasingly broad audience, the objective of this course unit is to establish dietary guidelines based on a scientific approach.
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of food and nutrition, covering nutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals), nutritional needs, and the various food groups. It will also cover certain food processing methods and technologies.
Biotechnology and the Challenge of Sustainable Agriculture
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course is offered to second-year Life Sciences students who wish to explore or gain a deeper understanding of how biotechnology can help address current and future challenges related to the sustainable production of agricultural and agri-food resources.
Humans use the properties of photosynthetic organisms and microorganisms to obtain and transform a wide range of resources and services: food for humans and livestock, therapeutic molecules, construction materials, and more. This use depends on natural conditions, and its overall impact is likely to affect the environment in turn—for example, through the extraction or degradation of limited and/or non-renewable resources (water, soil, etc.). Therefore, to ensure that this production of resources is sustainable, its organization (the concept of agronomy) must incorporate an understanding of these impacts and be based on knowledge of the properties of plants and microorganisms to address these challenges. The development and use of new biotechnologies in the fields of applied genetics and plant physiology, the use of microorganisms, and the beneficial or harmful interactions between these microorganisms and plants play a major role in these sustainable agronomy strategies.
Biochemistry
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Animal Behavior - Ethology
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The goal of this course is to understand animal behavior in an integrative manner, in light of Tinbergen’s four “whys”: from its ontogenesis and neurobiological causes to its evolution and biological functions. In addition to historical, conceptual, and methodological insights, students will be guided to understand the diversity of traits involved as well as the variety of scientific approaches and questions associated with them. Through various examples, this course will highlight the diversity of disciplines that study animal behavior—including neuroscience, ethology, and behavioral ecology—and will help students make informed decisions about continuing their studies in appropriate fields such as animal physiology and neuroscience, evolutionary biology and ecology, or other related areas.
ASTRE's Scientific Approach to the Ecological Transition
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Fall
CHOICE HAV401V
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
English S4
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
BioInfo
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
1- Linux Basics (1.5 hours lecture + 3 hours lab): Basic commands for navigating Linux and understanding the logic of this language. Short exercises in extracting information using Bash/shell. Material covered for the analysis of alignment files.
2- Databases (3 hours of lectures + 4.5 hours of lab sessions): become familiar with the main bibliographic and biological databases (NCBI, Ensembl, Galaxie, etc.). Learn how to perform relevant and effective searches, analyze and sort data, and describe the various formats
3- Sequence Analysis (1.5 hours of lecture + 4.5 hours of lab): Sequence alignment and comparison, with a brief introduction to phylogenetics (dot plot, BLAST, etc.)
Cellular and Molecular Biology 3
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course in the fourth semester (S4) allows students to consolidate and expand upon the fundamentals of molecular biology and cell biology they acquired in their first year (L1).
- Cell Biology: The course will cover four major topics: 1) The function of the cellular cytoskeleton, 2) Cell adhesion, 3) Protein trafficking, 4) An introduction to cell cycle regulation. Cell biology methodologies will also be presented: immunoprecipitation to detect protein interactions, fluorescence video microscopy to track the dynamics of cellular distribution, and assessment of the importance of proteins of interest in a cellular process using strategies to modulate their expression (RNA interference, overexpression).
- Molecular Biology: After gaining an understanding of the mechanisms of transcription and translation in Semester 3, we will explore the regulation of gene expression: transcriptional regulation (repressors, activators) and attenuation in prokaryotes, as well as the fundamentals of gene expression regulation mechanisms in eukaryotes.
Biochemistry Techniques
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course unit builds on the Biochemistry S3 course unit. This course unit places greater emphasis on practical aspects. The principles of common biochemistry techniques (protein separation techniques, protein quantification by spectrophotometry, Western blot/ELISA, etc.) will be covered in lectures, followed by experiments related to these techniques during lab sessions. Students will be expected to interpret and analyze the experiments conducted during the lab sessions.
Introduction to Evolution
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The objective of this course unit is to understand evolutionary processes at both the micro- and macro-evolutionary scales.
Using examples, hands-on activities, and accessible modeling, the course will aim to present, in a concrete and quantitative way, the effects of the four evolutionary forces operating at the individual and population levels (mutation, migration, selection, and genetic drift). The integration of these microevolutionary processes into larger timescales (e.g., lineage differentiation, speciation) will then be addressed. Finally, the course unit will include an introduction to phylogenetic tools (interpreting and constructing phylogenetic trees) that enable the study of macroevolutionary events (diversification, extinction) and the tracing of changes in character states, particularly by incorporating fossil data.
Physiology of Major Body Functions
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The “Major Physiological Functions” course (Semester 4) aims to describe the role and interactions of the body’s various systems that work together to maintain a constant internal environment. Students will acquire anatomical and functional knowledge of the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, and renal systems, as well as their neural and hormonal controls. Students will understand the combined action of these major systems through examples of integrative physiology and pathologies: respiratory and cardiac failure; hemorrhage; and exposure to extreme environments.
Personal and Professional Project
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Spring
Advanced Course in Cellular and Molecular Biology
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course unit aims to provide a deeper understanding, in small groups through tutorial and lab sessions, of the fundamental molecular and cellular processes covered in the BMC2 and BMC3 courses by approaching them through more concrete concepts. Instruction will be based on real-world data (experimental results, scientific articles) to clearly explain key scientific approaches and teach students how to analyze and interpret results (Example 1: demonstrating an in vivo interaction through the expression of labeled proteins in cell lines, followed by immunoprecipitation and Western blot). Example 2: the principle of immunofluorescence; intracellular distribution of an antigen. Example 3: in vitro transcription and translation, and the study of interactions via GST pull-down). The lab sessions will illustrate some of these basic approaches: cell culture, construction of expression vectors, transfection, immunolabeling, and fluorescence microscopy.
Metabolic Biochemistry
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course will enable students to build on the skills they acquired in “Biochemistry S3.” It will help them understand cellular metabolism by:
-an understanding of bioenergetics in order to study the processes by which living cells transport, transmit, utilize, store, and release energy;
-the study of the catabolism and anabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, nucleotides, and amino acids, as well as the metabolic interactions between these pathways.
- a description of metabolic disorders.
Genetics 1
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
In this introductory course on genetic analysis, the objectives are to become familiar with the terminology, principles, concepts, and methods used in formal genetics, as well as their applications, particularly in human and medical genetics. This course covers the genetics of inheritance (Mendelian and non-Mendelian), quantitative genetics, and basic concepts of population genetics. Throughout the course, close connections are drawn between classical genetics and molecular genetics.
CHOICE HAV418V
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
English S4
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
BioInfo
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
1- Linux Basics (1.5 hours lecture + 3 hours lab): Basic commands for navigating Linux and understanding the logic of this language. Short exercises in extracting information using Bash/shell. Material covered for the analysis of alignment files.
2- Databases (3 hours of lectures + 4.5 hours of lab sessions): become familiar with the main bibliographic and biological databases (NCBI, Ensembl, Galaxie, etc.). Learn how to perform relevant and effective searches, analyze and sort data, and describe the various formats
3- Sequence Analysis (1.5 hours of lecture + 4.5 hours of lab): Sequence alignment and comparison, with a brief introduction to phylogenetics (dot plot, BLAST, etc.)
Cellular and Molecular Biology 3
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course in the fourth semester (S4) allows students to consolidate and expand upon the fundamentals of molecular biology and cell biology they acquired in their first year (L1).
- Cell Biology: The course will cover four major topics: 1) The function of the cellular cytoskeleton, 2) Cell adhesion, 3) Protein trafficking, 4) An introduction to cell cycle regulation. Cell biology methodologies will also be presented: immunoprecipitation to detect protein interactions, fluorescence video microscopy to track the dynamics of cellular distribution, and assessment of the importance of proteins of interest in a cellular process using strategies to modulate their expression (RNA interference, overexpression).
- Molecular Biology: After gaining an understanding of the mechanisms of transcription and translation in Semester 3, we will explore the regulation of gene expression: transcriptional regulation (repressors, activators) and attenuation in prokaryotes, as well as the fundamentals of gene expression regulation mechanisms in eukaryotes.
Microbiology 2
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course unit aims to expand on previously acquired knowledge in various fields of microbiology, particularly microbial ecology.
It will cover pathogenic relationships, but will also present examples of symbiotic associations. It will address the applications of microorganisms in biotechnology. It will describe how antibiotics work and the associated resistance phenomena, as well as their impact.
The EU will address the concept of viral ecology by presenting the place and role of viruses in ecosystems. Bacteriophages will be discussed in greater detail, and the mechanisms by which bacteria resist phage infection will be explained. The various types of viral infections in animals will be presented (acute and persistent infections) and illustrated through the study of the pathogenesis of selected viral infections.
Knowledge of microorganisms will be expanded through the study of archaea and a model eukaryotic organism, yeast.
The lab sessions will focus on performing and interpreting an antibiogram, and on titrating bacteriophages.
Biochemistry Techniques
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course unit builds on the Biochemistry S3 course unit. This course unit places greater emphasis on practical aspects. The principles of common biochemistry techniques (protein separation techniques, protein quantification by spectrophotometry, Western blot/ELISA, etc.) will be covered in lectures, followed by experiments related to these techniques during lab sessions. Students will be expected to interpret and analyze the experiments conducted during the lab sessions.
Introduction to Evolution
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The objective of this course unit is to understand evolutionary processes at both the micro- and macro-evolutionary scales.
Using examples, hands-on activities, and accessible modeling, the course will aim to present, in a concrete and quantitative way, the effects of the four evolutionary forces operating at the individual and population levels (mutation, migration, selection, and genetic drift). The integration of these microevolutionary processes into larger timescales (e.g., lineage differentiation, speciation) will then be addressed. Finally, the course unit will include an introduction to phylogenetic tools (interpreting and constructing phylogenetic trees) that enable the study of macroevolutionary events (diversification, extinction) and the tracing of changes in character states, particularly by incorporating fossil data.
Physiology of Major Body Functions
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The “Major Physiological Functions” course (Semester 4) aims to describe the role and interactions of the body’s various systems that work together to maintain a constant internal environment. Students will acquire anatomical and functional knowledge of the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, and renal systems, as well as their neural and hormonal controls. Students will understand the combined action of these major systems through examples of integrative physiology and pathologies: respiratory and cardiac failure; hemorrhage; and exposure to extreme environments.
Personal and Professional Project
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Spring
Metabolic Biochemistry
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course will enable students to build on the skills they acquired in “Biochemistry S3.” It will help them understand cellular metabolism by:
-an understanding of bioenergetics in order to study the processes by which living cells transport, transmit, utilize, store, and release energy;
-the study of the catabolism and anabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, nucleotides, and amino acids, as well as the metabolic interactions between these pathways.
- a description of metabolic disorders.
Genetics 1
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
In this introductory course on genetic analysis, the objectives are to become familiar with the terminology, principles, concepts, and methods used in formal genetics, as well as their applications, particularly in human and medical genetics. This course covers the genetics of inheritance (Mendelian and non-Mendelian), quantitative genetics, and basic concepts of population genetics. Throughout the course, close connections are drawn between classical genetics and molecular genetics.
Cellular and Molecular Biology 2
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course in the third semester (S3) allows students to consolidate and expand upon the fundamentals of molecular biology and cell biology they acquired in their first year (L1).
Molecular Biology Section: The molecular and structural foundations of nucleic acids will be explored and examined in depth to understand the physicochemical properties of nucleic acids—which open up various avenues for technological applications—and the molecular mechanisms underlying the key processes in molecular biology, such as DNA replication, gene transcription into mRNA, and the translation of mRNA into proteins. These processes, illustrated by experimental evidence derived from various historical studies, will be studied in depth in prokaryotes. Comparisons with eukaryotes will also be discussed subsequently. The molecular mechanisms of DNA repair will also be described and explored.
Cell Biology Section: This section will cover the major concepts of membrane-bound and cytosolic protein complex formation, particularly in the context of cellular signaling pathways. The concepts of ligands, receptors, scaffolding proteins, signaling enzymes, intracellular second messengers, and response kinetics will be presented. Techniques in biochemistry and cell biology used to detect the presence and localization of proteins in cells and tissues will be discussed.
Fundamentals of Plant Physiology
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Description of Variability 1
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Course Description (max 10 lines):
The objective of this learning unit is to help students understand how to measure variation in biology and how it can be represented. It draws on concrete examples from various fields of biology (ecology, developmental biology, evolution, genetics, physiology) and provides the statistical tools for measuring this variation and the graphical methods for representing it. Statistical concepts such as 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 through tutorials based on biological problems.
Competencies targeted by the EU (see competency framework):
- Descriptive analytical tools in biology; an introduction to biostatistics through the analysis of biological patterns
Microbiology 1
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course covers the fundamentals of microbiology. It will explore the structures of microorganisms—both prokaryotes and eukaryotes—as well as viruses. It will provide an overview of the diversity of these microorganisms and describe their modes of reproduction.
For bacteria, the trophic types and factors influencing growth will be discussed, along with the study of growth in non-renewable media. Genetics and horizontal gene transfer among bacteria will be addressed.
Several eukaryotic microorganisms will be studied: their habitats, lifestyles, ecological roles or parasitism, as well as their modes of development.
In virology, the main viral replication cycles will be detailed, and modes of transmission and the concept of viral pathogenesis will be discussed. The principles of antiviral vaccination and antiviral treatments will be presented and illustrated using concrete examples.
The principles of antiviral vaccination and antiviral treatments will be presented and illustrated using concrete examples.
Laboratory sessions will provide an introduction to sterile handling techniques for microorganisms, bacterial counting, and conjugation.
Fundamentals of Animal Physiology and Immunology
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This module is designed to enable students to acquire:
Basic Concepts in Physiology: The concept of homeostasis; levels of organization in the human body; compartments of the internal environment; study of the endocrine system; acid-base and water-mineral balances; anatomical and functional studies of the central and peripheral nervous systems.
Basic Concepts in Immunology:
General overview of the immune system; study of T and B lymphocytes and antigen-presenting cells; study of antimicrobial immunity and the complement system.
Biochemistry, 3rd Semester
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course enables students to consolidate the fundamentals of biochemistry acquired in the first year of undergraduate studies by approaching the discipline through a cross-disciplinary study of enzymes involved in cellular metabolism, particularly glycolysis. Several areas of biochemistry will be covered: the fundamentals of Michaelis-Menten enzyme kinetics and a description of the metabolic reactions involved in glycolysis. Finally, the technical aspects will be addressed through the presentation and analysis of techniques used to measure enzyme activity and to purify, quantify, and detect proteins.
Chemistry for Biologists 2
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Description*: This second course unit in general chemistry aims to consolidate and deepen students’ understanding of reactions in aqueous solution, particularly those involving the formation of metal complexes. The principles of thermodynamics will be introduced and applied to the study of chemical equilibria of biological interest. Rather than presenting the material using a mathematical framework that would require a much greater number of class hours, students will be asked to understand the physical meaning of these principles and the main thermodynamic functions, as well as their applications to chemical systems—often those of biological interest. In particular, resting membrane potentials and the use of pH-potential diagrams in biology will be covered.
Students will work through course materials (written and audio) in advance of certain lectures and tutorials so that the in-person instruction during lectures and tutorials will enable them to actively participate in the program, understand the concepts presented, and acquire the necessary skills.
English S3
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Fluid Biophysics
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Food-Nutrition-Health
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Biotechnology and the Challenge of Sustainable Agriculture
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Biochemistry
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Animal Behavior - Ethology
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
ASTRE's Scientific Approach to the Ecological Transition
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Fall
CHOICE HAV415V
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
English S4
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
BioInfo
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
1- Linux Basics (1.5 hours lecture + 3 hours lab): Basic commands for navigating Linux and understanding the logic of this language. Short exercises in extracting information using Bash/shell. Material covered for the analysis of alignment files.
2- Databases (3 hours of lectures + 4.5 hours of lab sessions): become familiar with the main bibliographic and biological databases (NCBI, Ensembl, Galaxie, etc.). Learn how to perform relevant and effective searches, analyze and sort data, and describe the various formats
3- Sequence Analysis (1.5 hours of lecture + 4.5 hours of lab): Sequence alignment and comparison, with a brief introduction to phylogenetics (dot plot, BLAST, etc.)
Cellular and Molecular Biology 3
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course in the fourth semester (S4) allows students to consolidate and expand upon the fundamentals of molecular biology and cell biology they acquired in their first year (L1).
- Cell Biology: The course will cover four major topics: 1) The function of the cellular cytoskeleton, 2) Cell adhesion, 3) Protein trafficking, 4) An introduction to cell cycle regulation. Cell biology methodologies will also be presented: immunoprecipitation to detect protein interactions, fluorescence video microscopy to track the dynamics of cellular distribution, and assessment of the importance of proteins of interest in a cellular process using strategies to modulate their expression (RNA interference, overexpression).
- Molecular Biology: After gaining an understanding of the mechanisms of transcription and translation in Semester 3, we will explore the regulation of gene expression: transcriptional regulation (repressors, activators) and attenuation in prokaryotes, as well as the fundamentals of gene expression regulation mechanisms in eukaryotes.
Plant Biomolecules: Diversity and Applications
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Understand the major families of plant molecules and their properties, the biosynthetic pathways of these molecules, and the mechanisms regulating their biosynthesis in plants and microorganisms. In this module, the major families of molecules derived from plant secondary metabolism (terpenes, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins) are studied in terms of their biosynthesis in plants and the differentiation of specialized structures or cell groups. Based on this knowledge, biotechnological approaches aimed at metabolic engineering are presented. The role of these molecules in plant life is discussed, as well as their properties utilized by industry as colorants, flavorings, fragrances, medications, and biofuels. The use of natural polymers in the manufacture of industrial materials is addressed (paper pulp, rubber, plastics), and the production processes are described. Understanding the major families of plant molecules and their properties, the biosynthetic pathways of these molecules, and the mechanisms regulating their biosynthesis in plants remains a major challenge for the development of biorefineries in Europe.
Keywords: secondary metabolism, metabolic engineering, biomolecule valorization, cellular and metabolic differentiation, regulation of secondary metabolism.
Additional information:
Tours of two analytical platforms are scheduled at the Montpellier campus (1 hour and 30 minutes each)
Introduction to Evolution
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The objective of this course unit is to understand evolutionary processes at both the micro- and macro-evolutionary scales.
Using examples, hands-on activities, and accessible modeling, the course will aim to present, in a concrete and quantitative way, the effects of the four evolutionary forces operating at the individual and population levels (mutation, migration, selection, and genetic drift). The integration of these microevolutionary processes into larger timescales (e.g., lineage differentiation, speciation) will then be addressed. Finally, the course unit will include an introduction to phylogenetic tools (interpreting and constructing phylogenetic trees) that enable the study of macroevolutionary events (diversification, extinction) and the tracing of changes in character states, particularly by incorporating fossil data.
Physiology of Major Body Functions
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The “Major Physiological Functions” course (Semester 4) aims to describe the role and interactions of the body’s various systems that work together to maintain a constant internal environment. Students will acquire anatomical and functional knowledge of the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, and renal systems, as well as their neural and hormonal controls. Students will understand the combined action of these major systems through examples of integrative physiology and pathologies: respiratory and cardiac failure; hemorrhage; and exposure to extreme environments.
Personal and Professional Project
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Spring
Metabolic Biochemistry
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course will enable students to build on the skills they acquired in “Biochemistry S3.” It will help them understand cellular metabolism by:
-an understanding of bioenergetics in order to study the processes by which living cells transport, transmit, utilize, store, and release energy;
-the study of the catabolism and anabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, nucleotides, and amino acids, as well as the metabolic interactions between these pathways.
- a description of metabolic disorders.
Genetics 1
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
In this introductory course on genetic analysis, the objectives are to become familiar with the terminology, principles, concepts, and methods used in formal genetics, as well as their applications, particularly in human and medical genetics. This course covers the genetics of inheritance (Mendelian and non-Mendelian), quantitative genetics, and basic concepts of population genetics. Throughout the course, close connections are drawn between classical genetics and molecular genetics.
Symbiotic and Pathogenic Interactions in Plants
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Plants interact with a multitude of microorganisms in their environment. These microorganisms act alone or in communities. They can have negative or positive effects on plants, their growth, their nutrition, and their health. In this module, we will present the various forms these biotic interactions can take (symbiosis, parasitism, and pathogenicity), drawing on well-known biological examples (mycorrhizal and nitrogen-fixing symbioses, and diseases caused by various microorganisms). This will also be an opportunity to introduce emerging concepts in the field, such as the microbiome and the holobiont.
CHOICE HAV418V
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
English S4
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
BioInfo
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
1- Linux Basics (1.5 hours lecture + 3 hours lab): Basic commands for navigating Linux and understanding the logic of this language. Short exercises in extracting information using Bash/shell. Material covered for the analysis of alignment files.
2- Databases (3 hours of lectures + 4.5 hours of lab sessions): become familiar with the main bibliographic and biological databases (NCBI, Ensembl, Galaxie, etc.). Learn how to perform relevant and effective searches, analyze and sort data, and describe the various formats
3- Sequence Analysis (1.5 hours of lecture + 4.5 hours of lab): Sequence alignment and comparison, with a brief introduction to phylogenetics (dot plot, BLAST, etc.)
Cellular and Molecular Biology 3
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course in the fourth semester (S4) allows students to consolidate and expand upon the fundamentals of molecular biology and cell biology they acquired in their first year (L1).
- Cell Biology: The course will cover four major topics: 1) The function of the cellular cytoskeleton, 2) Cell adhesion, 3) Protein trafficking, 4) An introduction to cell cycle regulation. Cell biology methodologies will also be presented: immunoprecipitation to detect protein interactions, fluorescence video microscopy to track the dynamics of cellular distribution, and assessment of the importance of proteins of interest in a cellular process using strategies to modulate their expression (RNA interference, overexpression).
- Molecular Biology: After gaining an understanding of the mechanisms of transcription and translation in Semester 3, we will explore the regulation of gene expression: transcriptional regulation (repressors, activators) and attenuation in prokaryotes, as well as the fundamentals of gene expression regulation mechanisms in eukaryotes.
Microbiology 2
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course unit aims to expand on previously acquired knowledge in various fields of microbiology, particularly microbial ecology.
It will cover pathogenic relationships, but will also present examples of symbiotic associations. It will address the applications of microorganisms in biotechnology. It will describe how antibiotics work and the associated resistance phenomena, as well as their impact.
The EU will address the concept of viral ecology by presenting the place and role of viruses in ecosystems. Bacteriophages will be discussed in greater detail, and the mechanisms by which bacteria resist phage infection will be explained. The various types of viral infections in animals will be presented (acute and persistent infections) and illustrated through the study of the pathogenesis of selected viral infections.
Knowledge of microorganisms will be expanded through the study of archaea and a model eukaryotic organism, yeast.
The lab sessions will focus on performing and interpreting an antibiogram, and on titrating bacteriophages.
Plant Biomolecules: Diversity and Applications
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Understand the major families of plant molecules and their properties, the biosynthetic pathways of these molecules, and the mechanisms regulating their biosynthesis in plants and microorganisms. In this module, the major families of molecules derived from plant secondary metabolism (terpenes, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins) are studied in terms of their biosynthesis in plants and the differentiation of specialized structures or cell groups. Based on this knowledge, biotechnological approaches aimed at metabolic engineering are presented. The role of these molecules in plant life is discussed, as well as their properties utilized by industry as colorants, flavorings, fragrances, medications, and biofuels. The use of natural polymers in the manufacture of industrial materials is addressed (paper pulp, rubber, plastics), and the production processes are described. Understanding the major families of plant molecules and their properties, the biosynthetic pathways of these molecules, and the mechanisms regulating their biosynthesis in plants remains a major challenge for the development of biorefineries in Europe.
Keywords: secondary metabolism, metabolic engineering, biomolecule valorization, cellular and metabolic differentiation, regulation of secondary metabolism.
Additional information:
Tours of two analytical platforms are scheduled at the Montpellier campus (1 hour and 30 minutes each)
Introduction to Evolution
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The objective of this course unit is to understand evolutionary processes at both the micro- and macro-evolutionary scales.
Using examples, hands-on activities, and accessible modeling, the course will aim to present, in a concrete and quantitative way, the effects of the four evolutionary forces operating at the individual and population levels (mutation, migration, selection, and genetic drift). The integration of these microevolutionary processes into larger timescales (e.g., lineage differentiation, speciation) will then be addressed. Finally, the course unit will include an introduction to phylogenetic tools (interpreting and constructing phylogenetic trees) that enable the study of macroevolutionary events (diversification, extinction) and the tracing of changes in character states, particularly by incorporating fossil data.
Physiology of Major Body Functions
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The “Major Physiological Functions” course (Semester 4) aims to describe the role and interactions of the body’s various systems that work together to maintain a constant internal environment. Students will acquire anatomical and functional knowledge of the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, and renal systems, as well as their neural and hormonal controls. Students will understand the combined action of these major systems through examples of integrative physiology and pathologies: respiratory and cardiac failure; hemorrhage; and exposure to extreme environments.
Personal and Professional Project
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Spring
Metabolic Biochemistry
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course will enable students to build on the skills they acquired in “Biochemistry S3.” It will help them understand cellular metabolism by:
-an understanding of bioenergetics in order to study the processes by which living cells transport, transmit, utilize, store, and release energy;
-the study of the catabolism and anabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, nucleotides, and amino acids, as well as the metabolic interactions between these pathways.
- a description of metabolic disorders.
Genetics 1
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
In this introductory course on genetic analysis, the objectives are to become familiar with the terminology, principles, concepts, and methods used in formal genetics, as well as their applications, particularly in human and medical genetics. This course covers the genetics of inheritance (Mendelian and non-Mendelian), quantitative genetics, and basic concepts of population genetics. Throughout the course, close connections are drawn between classical genetics and molecular genetics.
S3L2SVBE
ECTS
30 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Experimental Ecology and the Scientific Method
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course unit is a hands-on course on designing a scientific ecology experiment: developing a protocol, setting up and monitoring the experiment, analyzing data, and presenting oral and written reports.
Fundamentals of Plant Physiology
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course is a cross-disciplinary course in the second year of the SV program designed to provide biology students with a fundamental understanding of how plants function, enabling them to grasp the current challenges in plant agricultural sciences.
The following basic concepts of plant physiology and functional biology will be studied:
Key experimental approaches: plant transgenesis, forward and reverse genetics
Fundamentals of Autotrophy
mechanisms underlying the major stages of angiosperm development: meristem function, floral transition, and fertilization.
auxin, a key hormone involved in plant development and their response to the abiotic environment
The laboratory sessions will allow students to experiment with regulating plant water uptake and to analyze plant mineral nutrition using various biochemical assays (flame photometry, spectrophotometry).
Description of Variability 1
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Course Description (max 10 lines):
The objective of this learning unit is to help students understand how to measure variation in biology and how it can be represented. It draws on concrete examples from various fields of biology (ecology, developmental biology, evolution, genetics, physiology) and provides the statistical tools for measuring this variation and the graphical methods for representing it. Statistical concepts such as 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 through tutorials based on biological problems.
Competencies targeted by the EU (see competency framework):
- Descriptive analytical tools in biology; an introduction to biostatistics through the analysis of biological patterns
Description of Variability 2
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course is a practical, complementary application of the course “Description of Variability 1” (HAV312B).
The creation and analysis of datasets are carried out through lab sessions using the R software, in conjunction with tutorial sessions, as well as the generation of graphs and numerical parameters used to characterize the samples and their variability.
Competencies targeted by the EU (see competency framework):
- Descriptive analytical tools in biology; an introduction to biostatistics through the analysis of biological patterns
English S3
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Fundamental Ecology: Concepts and Methods
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course is an introduction to the general concepts of scientific ecology: levels of organization, measurement and conservation of biodiversity, biogeography, and biotic and abiotic factors influencing the distribution and dynamics of biodiversity. It also provides an understanding of the methods used in scientific ecology: the importance of experimentation, considerations for designing a protocol, data analysis, and oral and written reports on an experiment.
Ecology, Diversity, and Evolution of Fungi
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The purpose of this course is to explore the fungal kingdom from biological, ecological, and evolutionary perspectives. Through a series of lectures, supplemented by group work sessions (tutorials and lab sessions), students will become familiar with these organisms, their biological characteristics (particularly with regard to reproduction), and their roles in the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. In addition, the role of fungi in human societies (particularly in food and medicine) will be explored as part of this course unit, which also aims to analyze the links between biodiversity and human societies.
Fundamentals of Plant Biology
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The EU covers the theoretical concepts of plant biology, using the group of spermatophytes as a model. It aims to define the concepts and specific vocabulary related to morphology, anatomy, reproduction, and life cycles.
Diversity and Evolution of Present-Day and Past Metazoans N1
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Number of hours
0h
The EU is interested in describing the morpho-anatomical characteristics of the major organizational plans of metazoans found in present-day and past faunas, as well as in explaining their origin and the dynamics of their emergence. It thus develops a perspective on organisms based on paleontology and zoology. It will primarily address the origin of metazoans and the main divisions—diploblastic and triploblastic organisms—as well as basic concepts related to the positioning and phylogenetic relationships among taxa (mono- and paraphyly, evolutionary convergence, etc.). The course is traditionally divided into lectures, tutorials—which will primarily aim to illustrate and support aspects related to the biodiversity of taxa—and laboratory sessions designed to develop skills, particularly and mandatorily in dissection.
Comparative Animal Physiology
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
EUObjectives: A comparative study of major physiological functions in animals in relation to their environment. A study of structures and functions at various levels of integration, from the organism to the molecule.
Organisms studied: mammals compared with other vertebrate models (teleosts, etc.) and invertebrates (insects, crustaceans, mollusks, etc.).
Description: This course will cover certain major physiological functions (respiration, nutrition, excretion, and water-and-electrolyte regulation) as well as the fundamentals of immunology and regulatory systems (the nervous system and chemical communication). In addition to lectures, students will work in groups on various topics proposed by the instructors. They will present these topics in the form of presentations and summarize the key points to remember in a written summary. Lab sessions and a tutorial will also be offered to illustrate the course material.
Fundamentals of Plant Physiology
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course is a cross-disciplinary course in the second year of the SV program designed to provide biology students with a fundamental understanding of how plants function, enabling them to grasp the current challenges in plant agricultural sciences.
The following basic concepts of plant physiology and functional biology will be studied:
Key experimental approaches: plant transgenesis, forward and reverse genetics
Fundamentals of Autotrophy
mechanisms underlying the major stages of angiosperm development: meristem function, floral transition, and fertilization.
auxin, a key hormone involved in plant development and their response to the abiotic environment
The laboratory sessions will allow students to experiment with regulating plant water uptake and to analyze plant mineral nutrition using various biochemical assays (flame photometry, spectrophotometry).
Description of Variability 1
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Course Description (max 10 lines):
The objective of this learning unit is to help students understand how to measure variation in biology and how it can be represented. It draws on concrete examples from various fields of biology (ecology, developmental biology, evolution, genetics, physiology) and provides the statistical tools for measuring this variation and the graphical methods for representing it. Statistical concepts such as 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 through tutorials based on biological problems.
Competencies targeted by the EU (see competency framework):
- Descriptive analytical tools in biology; an introduction to biostatistics through the analysis of biological patterns
Sedimentary Geology, Tectonics, and Mapping
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course unit brings together three complementary and fundamental disciplines of Earth sciences: sedimentology, tectonics, and mapping. The various types of sedimentary rocks will be taught in detail to enable students to interpret the context of their formation and the associated processes. Topics in ductile and brittle tectonics will also be addressed at various scales to establish their formation context, particularly in terms of stress regimes. Laboratory work on samples will be conducted in parallel to help students develop their observational and drawing skills and make use of the department’s extensive collections. Finally, an introduction to reading and working with geological maps (schematic maps, cross-sections) will be provided, applying the concepts of sedimentology and tectonics previously acquired. This course unit is designed to enable students to outline the general history of a given region’s geology.
Hourly volumes:
- CM: 12
- TD: 3
- TP: 21
Description of Variability 2
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course is a practical, complementary application of the course “Description of Variability 1” (HAV312B).
The creation and analysis of datasets are carried out through lab sessions using the R software, in conjunction with tutorial sessions, as well as the generation of graphs and numerical parameters used to characterize the samples and their variability.
Competencies targeted by the EU (see competency framework):
- Descriptive analytical tools in biology; an introduction to biostatistics through the analysis of biological patterns
English S3
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Fundamental Ecology: Concepts and Methods
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course is an introduction to the general concepts of scientific ecology: levels of organization, measurement and conservation of biodiversity, biogeography, and biotic and abiotic factors influencing the distribution and dynamics of biodiversity. It also provides an understanding of the methods used in scientific ecology: the importance of experimentation, considerations for designing a protocol, data analysis, and oral and written reports on an experiment.
Ecology, Diversity, and Evolution of Fungi
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The purpose of this course is to explore the fungal kingdom from biological, ecological, and evolutionary perspectives. Through a series of lectures, supplemented by group work sessions (tutorials and lab sessions), students will become familiar with these organisms, their biological characteristics (particularly with regard to reproduction), and their roles in the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. In addition, the role of fungi in human societies (particularly in food and medicine) will be explored as part of this course unit, which also aims to analyze the links between biodiversity and human societies.
Fundamentals of Plant Biology
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The EU covers the theoretical concepts of plant biology, using the group of spermatophytes as a model. It aims to define the concepts and specific vocabulary related to morphology, anatomy, reproduction, and life cycles.
Diversity and Evolution of Present-Day and Past Metazoans N1
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Number of hours
0h
The EU is interested in describing the morpho-anatomical characteristics of the major organizational plans of metazoans found in present-day and past faunas, as well as in explaining their origin and the dynamics of their emergence. It thus develops a perspective on organisms based on paleontology and zoology. It will primarily address the origin of metazoans and the main divisions—diploblastic and triploblastic organisms—as well as basic concepts related to the positioning and phylogenetic relationships among taxa (mono- and paraphyly, evolutionary convergence, etc.). The course is traditionally divided into lectures, tutorials—which will primarily aim to illustrate and support aspects related to the biodiversity of taxa—and laboratory sessions designed to develop skills, particularly and mandatorily in dissection.
Comparative Animal Physiology
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
EUObjectives: A comparative study of major physiological functions in animals in relation to their environment. A study of structures and functions at various levels of integration, from the organism to the molecule.
Organisms studied: mammals compared with other vertebrate models (teleosts, etc.) and invertebrates (insects, crustaceans, mollusks, etc.).
Description: This course will cover certain major physiological functions (respiration, nutrition, excretion, and water-and-electrolyte regulation) as well as the fundamentals of immunology and regulatory systems (the nervous system and chemical communication). In addition to lectures, students will work in groups on various topics proposed by the instructors. They will present these topics in the form of presentations and summarize the key points to remember in a written summary. Lab sessions and a tutorial will also be offered to illustrate the course material.
ASTRE's Scientific Approach to the Ecological Transition
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Fall
S4L2SVBE
ECTS
30 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Diversity and Evolution of Present-Day and Past Metazoans N2
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The course builds on the L2 S3 course, focusing on describing the morpho-anatomical characteristics of the major organizational levels of metazoans found in present-day and past faunas, as well as explaining their origin and the dynamics of their emergence through the acquisition of skills in paleontology and zoology. In S4, the course will primarily explore the major subdivisions within protostome organisms—namely the Lophotrochozoa (annelids, mollusks, brachiopods, etc.) and the Ecdysozoa (arthropods, nematodes, etc.)—while emphasizing their phylogenetic relationships as well as their socio-economic significance and impacts. The course unit is traditionally divided into lectures, tutorials—which will primarily aim to illustrate and support aspects related to the biodiversity of taxons—and laboratory sessions designed to develop skills, notably and mandatorily through the performance of certain dissections.
Introduction to Evolution
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The objective of this course unit is to understand evolutionary processes at both the micro- and macro-evolutionary scales.
Using examples, hands-on activities, and accessible modeling, the course will aim to present, in a concrete and quantitative way, the effects of the four evolutionary forces operating at the individual and population levels (mutation, migration, selection, and genetic drift). The integration of these microevolutionary processes into larger timescales (e.g., lineage differentiation, speciation) will then be addressed. Finally, the course unit will include an introduction to phylogenetic tools (interpreting and constructing phylogenetic trees) that enable the study of macroevolutionary events (diversification, extinction) and the tracing of changes in character states, particularly by incorporating fossil data.
From Genotype to Phenotype
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
In this course, students will learn about the connections between an individual’s genetic makeup and the development of their morphology, physiology, and lifestyle. The course will focus on understanding the connections between the information contained in the genome and the life cycle of the organism in question, including the cellular characteristics resulting from the expression of genetic information. This information will be placed within an evolutionary context and will help shed light on several major evolutionary transitions, particularly among metazoans.
Functional Ecology
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The Functional Ecology course aims to provide a solid foundation in the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems, with a particular focus on the role played by living organisms in material flows within these ecosystems. The main processes covered are primary production, consumer relationships—particularly herbivory—and the decomposition and transformation of soil organic matter. For each of these processes, special attention is given to (1) the link between organisms’ strategies and their function within the ecosystem, and (2) basing the presentation of concepts on field observations, highlighting characteristics of organisms or the ecosystem that students might encounter during field trips.
This course thus bridges a broader introduction to ecology in the first semester (HLBE304) and introduces concepts necessary for the third-year course on community ecology.
The focus is on practical aspects, particularly through a series of group-based hands-on activities, in which a simple but scientifically relevant hypothesis will be tested experimentally using an appropriate protocol.
Quantification of Risk
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course unit is a natural continuation of the course unit “Description of Variability” presented in S3. Its objective is to provide the concepts and methods underlying modern biostatistics—namely, the quantification of randomness—which is a pervasive issue in the life sciences. This course will serve as an introduction to inferential statistics: parametric and nonparametric tests, linear regression, and analysis of variance. Particular attention will be given to the conditions under which these methods are applicable, as well as to the concepts of Type I and Type II errors, power, replication, and confidence intervals. Each concept will be illustrated using analyses of real and diverse biological data, contributing to the biostatistical literacy necessary to develop critical thinking regarding scientific results. Practical exercises using R will provide training in this standard programming language and the statistical tools implemented within it, while also helping students understand the material covered in class through the application of the methods presented.
Personal and Professional Project
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Spring
CHOICE 2
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Earth Materials
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The objective of this course is to introduce the concepts and tools needed to observe and describe magmatic and metamorphic minerals and rocks and to understand their origin. The course will begin with an introduction to the concepts of mineralogy (crystallography, crystallochemistry) and the tools required to identify the minerals that make up magmatic and metamorphic rocks. You will then study the structure and nature of the mantle, as well as the processes involved from magma formation through to the eruption of igneous rocks: partial melting, crystallization, crustal assimilation, and magmatic mixing. You will learn to distinguish between different magmatic series based on their chemical compositions and physical properties. The link between eruptive processes, volcanic hazards, and risks will also be addressed. In the third part, we will introduce the main variables (pressure, temperature, time) and the various geodynamic contexts of metamorphism. We will examine the various metamorphic facies, as well as the structures and textures of metamorphic rocks, and you will learn to recognize mineral reactions and interpret them in terms of metamorphic evolution.
A combined study of igneous and metamorphic rocks will provide the foundation for understanding issues related to the geodynamics of the Earth’s interior, geochemical cycles, mineral resources, and more…
History of Plants and Natural Environments
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The course approaches the history of plants, on the one hand, diachronically, by studying each of the major geological periods (Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic), and second, in a cross-disciplinary manner, by delving into certain methods for studying paleoenvironments (macroflora, palynology, climate, geochemistry, biomechanics, etc.).
Following an introductory lecture, the lectures cover, on the one hand, the history of plants by major geological period (Lectures 2–3: Paleozoic; Lectures 4–5: Mesozoic; Lectures 6–8: Cenozoic) and, on the other hand, interdisciplinary approaches (Lectures 9–10: Isotopic geochemistry; CM11–12: Biomechanics).
The lab sessions illustrate examples of paleoenvironmental reconstruction based on the study of fossil records: Lab 1, Paleozoic Macroflora (Graissessac); Labs 2–3, Early Pleistocene Macroflora (Bernasso); Lab 4, Recent Pleistocene Pollen (La Gourre); Lab 5, Holocene Geochemistry.
Ecophysiology of Aquatic Organisms
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The objective of this course unit is to understand the mechanisms organisms use to cope with the constraints of the aquatic environment. Using animal models (mollusks, crustaceans, fish) and plants (macro- and microalgae, aquatic angiosperms), this course unit will address the various aspects of the adaptive biology of organisms, ranging from their ability to acclimate and adapt to changes to their physiological limits and the optimization of phenotypic traits in response to environmental constraints. This course unit aims to examine:
- key concepts and approaches in ecophysiology;
- ecophysiological responses (ranging from gene expression to an organism’s performance and behavior), using various aquatic ecosystems (intertidal, estuarine, polar, cave, and abyssal) as examples;
- the integration of structure-function relationships within a given environmental context.
From a practical standpoint, this course unit will allow students to study how organisms function through simple physiological measurements and to learn how to set up experiments. Presentations of scientific articles selected by the instructors will supplement the knowledge acquired in class.
Parasitic Eukaryotes
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This unit presents the biology of parasitic eukaryotic organisms, taking their diversity into account. We will therefore cover both unicellular organisms and vertebrates.
In addition to the physiological, anatomical, and morphological aspects, significant attention will be given to describing their life cycles, which necessarily involve a phase of transmission to an obligate host.
Naturalist Specialization 1
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The objective is to provide students with knowledge about the biology, ecology, and evolution of the three taxonomic groups in question. Beyond species identification (which will be covered extensively), this course unit will address the evolution and systematics of the taxonomic group in question, fundamental ecology (evolutionary and functional ecology), applied ecology (conservation), physiology, legislation, as well as methods of study and identification.
After a general introductory session, two parallel tracks will be offered. One will focus on Mediterranean flora, and the other on fauna (amphibians, reptiles, and birds).
Flora
The French Mediterranean region is home to more than two-thirds of the floral diversity found in metropolitan France. This course unit serves as an introduction to this exceptional diversity and the underlying mechanisms. It is designed to enable students to 1. describe a plant in a way that highlights the characteristics useful for identification and 2. use various identification tools and understand their strengths and limitations. The course will incorporate innovative teaching approaches, combining the use of traditional tools (printed flora guides) and digital tools (FloreNum, PlantNet), to facilitate learning tailored to the student’s level of knowledge (from beginner to knowledgeable enthusiast). Species identification will serve as a foundation for studying their biology and ecology and for exploring the concepts of evolution and phylogeny. To this end, workshops will be conducted in parallel with lab sessions: 1. developing a morphological classification to be compared with traditional classifications (morphological and phylogenetic), 2. an introduction to species ecology through a habitat-based approach, and 3. a diachronic study of developmental biology by monitoring the growth of wild species planted under controlled conditions.
Animals
The goal for students is to acquire or deepen their knowledge of the biology of birds, amphibians, and reptiles, which serve as ideal models in fundamental ecology (ethology, evolutionary ecology, functional ecology), applied ecology (conservation biology), and environmental education/instruction. Beyond species identification, this area of study will address the evolution and systematics of these taxa, as well as their physiology and their ecological and behavioral characteristics.
Each group (Fauna - Flora) will have 12 hours of fieldwork time available (half of which will be shared by both groups), to be carried out according to terms to be determined (4 half-day field trips, or 2 full-day field trips). The practical exercises may be conducted at university sites (university campus—the Labex CEMEB experimental plot at the CEFE—Botanical Garden) suitable for studying various organisms.
Cross-Curricular Concept
The EU is organized around a concept common to both TP groups, which—through a flipped classroom approach—will allow students to use the observed species as a starting point to identify key concepts in conservation biology. In S4, the focus will be on distribution (chorology) and the concept of rarity at different spatial scales. These concepts will support methodological questions, particularly those concerning the estimation of organism abundance. To this end, at the end of the module, students will present a taxon of their choice—from among those proposed in the course—that illustrates the concept of distribution.
Fundamentals of Conservation Biology and Physiology
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The EU’s goal is to bridge the gap between knowledge of biology and physiology on the one hand, and demography and population dynamics on the other. This approach aims to lay the groundwork for conservation biology by providing insights into how animal and plant organisms and populations respond to changes in ecosystems and sources of stress.
Teaching Methods:
Tutorials in the form of presentations and discussions of scientific data, or in a “flipped” format featuring small-group presentations, independent group projects, and analyses of real-world restoration cases;
Tutorial 1: Introduction to the course: concepts, activities, and teaching methods. Development of the flipped tutorial schedule
TD2: Ecophysiology and Environmental Physiology (definitions); case studies (invasive species, reintroductions, ecological management)
TD3: Analysis of the consequences of major pollution events (marine and terrestrial), ecological engineering, and passive and active biomonitoring tools.
TD4–16: In a “reverse” format (students take an “active” role, with the instructor providing supplementary information), a series of sessions aimed at establishing
- the links between biology and life strategies on the one hand, and life history traits on the other, using several representative examples (animal and plant species; generalist and specialized species; rare species—including different types of rarity—or widespread, even invasive, species);
- the development of a population's demographics
- changes in a population's demographics resulting from various disturbances, particularly long-term disturbances that affect the population's ability to evolve.
Two tutorial sessions (3 hours total): analysis of various conservation and biomonitoring strategies, taking into account knowledge of organism physiology as well as ecological and behavioral characteristics. Research and analysis of documents, synthesis, and oral presentation of studies / discussion
Practical Training: plant ecophysiological analyses; animal ecophysiological analyses using noninvasive methods (behavioral, physiological, and bioenergetic analyses).
Modeling Living Systems: Theory
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
History of Plants and Natural Environments
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The course approaches the history of plants, on the one hand, diachronically, by studying each of the major geological periods (Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic), and second, in a cross-disciplinary manner, by delving into certain methods for studying paleoenvironments (macroflora, palynology, climate, geochemistry, biomechanics, etc.).
Following an introductory lecture, the lectures cover, on the one hand, the history of plants by major geological period (Lectures 2–3: Paleozoic; Lectures 4–5: Mesozoic; Lectures 6–8: Cenozoic) and, on the other hand, interdisciplinary approaches (Lectures 9–10: Isotopic geochemistry; CM11–12: Biomechanics).
The lab sessions illustrate examples of paleoenvironmental reconstruction based on the study of fossil records: Lab 1, Paleozoic Macroflora (Graissessac); Labs 2–3, Early Pleistocene Macroflora (Bernasso); Lab 4, Recent Pleistocene Pollen (La Gourre); Lab 5, Holocene Geochemistry.
Earth Materials
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The objective of this course is to introduce the concepts and tools needed to observe and describe magmatic and metamorphic minerals and rocks and to understand their origin. The course will begin with an introduction to the concepts of mineralogy (crystallography, crystallochemistry) and the tools required to identify the minerals that make up magmatic and metamorphic rocks. You will then study the structure and nature of the mantle, as well as the processes involved from magma formation through to the eruption of igneous rocks: partial melting, crystallization, crustal assimilation, and magmatic mixing. You will learn to distinguish between different magmatic series based on their chemical compositions and physical properties. The link between eruptive processes, volcanic hazards, and risks will also be addressed. In the third part, we will introduce the main variables (pressure, temperature, time) and the various geodynamic contexts of metamorphism. We will examine the various metamorphic facies, as well as the structures and textures of metamorphic rocks, and you will learn to recognize mineral reactions and interpret them in terms of metamorphic evolution.
A combined study of igneous and metamorphic rocks will provide the foundation for understanding issues related to the geodynamics of the Earth’s interior, geochemical cycles, mineral resources, and more…
Fundamentals of Conservation Biology and Physiology
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Ecophysiology of Aquatic Organisms
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The objective of this course unit is to understand the mechanisms organisms use to cope with the constraints of the aquatic environment. Using animal models (mollusks, crustaceans, fish) and plants (macro- and microalgae, aquatic angiosperms), this course unit will address the various aspects of the adaptive biology of organisms, ranging from their ability to acclimate and adapt to changes to their physiological limits and the optimization of phenotypic traits in response to environmental constraints. This course unit aims to examine:
- key concepts and approaches in ecophysiology;
- ecophysiological responses (ranging from gene expression to an organism’s performance and behavior), using various aquatic ecosystems (intertidal, estuarine, polar, cave, and abyssal) as examples;
- the integration of structure-function relationships within a given environmental context.
From a practical standpoint, this course unit will allow students to study how organisms function through simple physiological measurements and to learn how to set up experiments. Presentations of scientific articles selected by the instructors will supplement the knowledge acquired in class.
Parasitic Eukaryotes
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This unit presents the biology of parasitic eukaryotic organisms, taking their diversity into account. We will therefore cover both unicellular organisms and vertebrates.
In addition to the physiological, anatomical, and morphological aspects, significant attention will be given to describing their life cycles, which necessarily involve a phase of transmission to an obligate host.
Naturalist Specialization 1
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The objective is to provide students with knowledge about the biology, ecology, and evolution of the three taxonomic groups in question. Beyond species identification (which will be covered extensively), this course unit will address the evolution and systematics of the taxonomic group in question, fundamental ecology (evolutionary and functional ecology), applied ecology (conservation), physiology, legislation, as well as methods of study and identification.
After a general introductory session, two parallel tracks will be offered. One will focus on Mediterranean flora, and the other on fauna (amphibians, reptiles, and birds).
Flora
The French Mediterranean region is home to more than two-thirds of the floral diversity found in metropolitan France. This course unit serves as an introduction to this exceptional diversity and the underlying mechanisms. It is designed to enable students to 1. describe a plant in a way that highlights the characteristics useful for identification and 2. use various identification tools and understand their strengths and limitations. The course will incorporate innovative teaching approaches, combining the use of traditional tools (printed flora guides) and digital tools (FloreNum, PlantNet), to facilitate learning tailored to the student’s level of knowledge (from beginner to knowledgeable enthusiast). Species identification will serve as a foundation for studying their biology and ecology and for exploring the concepts of evolution and phylogeny. To this end, workshops will be conducted in parallel with lab sessions: 1. developing a morphological classification to be compared with traditional classifications (morphological and phylogenetic), 2. an introduction to species ecology through a habitat-based approach, and 3. a diachronic study of developmental biology by monitoring the growth of wild species planted under controlled conditions.
Animals
The goal for students is to acquire or deepen their knowledge of the biology of birds, amphibians, and reptiles, which serve as ideal models in fundamental ecology (ethology, evolutionary ecology, functional ecology), applied ecology (conservation biology), and environmental education/instruction. Beyond species identification, this area of study will address the evolution and systematics of these taxa, as well as their physiology and their ecological and behavioral characteristics.
Each group (Fauna - Flora) will have 12 hours of fieldwork time available (half of which will be shared by both groups), to be carried out according to terms to be determined (4 half-day field trips, or 2 full-day field trips). The practical exercises may be conducted at university sites (university campus—the Labex CEMEB experimental plot at the CEFE—Botanical Garden) suitable for studying various organisms.
Cross-Curricular Concept
The EU is organized around a concept common to both TP groups, which—through a flipped classroom approach—will allow students to use the observed species as a starting point to identify key concepts in conservation biology. In S4, the focus will be on distribution (chorology) and the concept of rarity at different spatial scales. These concepts will support methodological questions, particularly those concerning the estimation of organism abundance. To this end, at the end of the module, students will present a taxon of their choice—from among those proposed in the course—that illustrates the concept of distribution.
English S4
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Plant Diversity
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The EU addresses the various groups of plants (“algae,” “cryptogams,” and spermatophytes”), specifying for each group its phylogenetic position and nature (monophyletic or paraphyletic), its origin, and its distinctive features in terms of morphology, anatomy, reproduction, and ecology.
The 4th-grade classes cover the different groups of plants: 4th grade, diversity of “algae”; 5th grade, life cycles of “algae”; 6th grade, “cryptogams”; 7th grade, spermatophytes.
Six tutorials cover cross-cutting concepts through oral and written exercises: Tutorial 1, Biological Cycles; Tutorial 2, Endosymbiosis; Tutorial 3, Interactions; Tutorial 4, Adaptation; Tutorial 5, Polyploidy; Tutorial 6, Phylogeny.
Six lab sessions illustrate the concepts covered in lectures and tutorials using living specimens: Lab 1, “Algae” 1; Lab 2, “Algae” 2; Lab 3, “Bryophytes”; Lab 4, “Pteridophytes”; Lab 5, Gymnosperms, vegetative system; Lab 6, Gymnosperms, reproduction.
Cellular and Molecular Biology 2
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course in the third semester (S3) allows students to consolidate and expand upon the fundamentals of molecular biology and cell biology they acquired in their first year (L1).
Molecular Biology Section: The molecular and structural foundations of nucleic acids will be explored and examined in depth to understand the physicochemical properties of nucleic acids—which open up various avenues for technological applications—and the molecular mechanisms underlying the key processes in molecular biology, such as DNA replication, gene transcription into mRNA, and the translation of mRNA into proteins. These processes, illustrated by experimental evidence derived from various historical studies, will be studied in depth in prokaryotes. Comparisons with eukaryotes will also be discussed subsequently. The molecular mechanisms of DNA repair will also be described and explored.
Cell Biology Section: This section will cover the major concepts of membrane-bound and cytosolic protein complex formation, particularly in the context of cellular signaling pathways. The concepts of ligands, receptors, scaffolding proteins, signaling enzymes, intracellular second messengers, and response kinetics will be presented. Techniques in biochemistry and cell biology used to detect the presence and localization of proteins in cells and tissues will be discussed.
Fundamentals of Plant Physiology
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course is a cross-disciplinary course in the second year of the SV program designed to provide biology students with a fundamental understanding of how plants function, enabling them to grasp the current challenges in plant agricultural sciences.
The following basic concepts of plant physiology and functional biology will be studied:
Key experimental approaches: plant transgenesis, forward and reverse genetics
Fundamentals of Autotrophy
mechanisms underlying the major stages of angiosperm development: meristem function, floral transition, and fertilization.
auxin, a key hormone involved in plant development and their response to the abiotic environment
The laboratory sessions will allow students to experiment with regulating plant water uptake and to analyze plant mineral nutrition using various biochemical assays (flame photometry, spectrophotometry).
Description of Variability 1
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Course Description (max 10 lines):
The objective of this learning unit is to help students understand how to measure variation in biology and how it can be represented. It draws on concrete examples from various fields of biology (ecology, developmental biology, evolution, genetics, physiology) and provides the statistical tools for measuring this variation and the graphical methods for representing it. Statistical concepts such as 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 through tutorials based on biological problems.
Competencies targeted by the EU (see competency framework):
- Descriptive analytical tools in biology; an introduction to biostatistics through the analysis of biological patterns
Microbiology 1
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course covers the fundamentals of microbiology. It will explore the structures of microorganisms—both prokaryotes and eukaryotes—as well as viruses. It will provide an overview of the diversity of these microorganisms and describe their modes of reproduction.
For bacteria, the trophic types and factors influencing growth will be discussed, along with the study of growth in non-renewable media. Genetics and horizontal gene transfer among bacteria will be addressed.
Several eukaryotic microorganisms will be studied: their habitats, lifestyles, ecological roles or parasitism, as well as their modes of development.
In virology, the main viral replication cycles will be detailed, and modes of transmission and the concept of viral pathogenesis will be discussed. The principles of antiviral vaccination and antiviral treatments will be presented and illustrated using concrete examples.
The principles of antiviral vaccination and antiviral treatments will be presented and illustrated using concrete examples.
Laboratory sessions will provide an introduction to sterile handling techniques for microorganisms, bacterial counting, and conjugation.
Fundamentals of Animal Physiology and Immunology
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This module is designed to enable students to acquire:
Basic Concepts in Physiology: The concept of homeostasis; levels of organization in the human body; compartments of the internal environment; study of the endocrine system; acid-base and water-mineral balances; anatomical and functional studies of the central and peripheral nervous systems.
Basic Concepts in Immunology:
General overview of the immune system; study of T and B lymphocytes and antigen-presenting cells; study of antimicrobial immunity and the complement system.
Biochemistry, 3rd Semester
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course enables students to consolidate the fundamentals of biochemistry acquired in the first year of undergraduate studies by approaching the discipline through a cross-disciplinary study of enzymes involved in cellular metabolism, particularly glycolysis. Several areas of biochemistry will be covered: the fundamentals of Michaelis-Menten enzyme kinetics and a description of the metabolic reactions involved in glycolysis. Finally, the technical aspects will be addressed through the presentation and analysis of techniques used to measure enzyme activity and to purify, quantify, and detect proteins.
CHOICE 1
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Fluid Biophysics
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The first part (about one-third) of the module will cover (biological) processes whose temporal evolution is described by an exponential law (growth or decline).
Radioactivity will be discussed as an example of such a process and for its applications in the fields of biology, health, and the environment (dating, tracing, etc.).
The second part (about two-thirds) of the module will introduce the concepts of fluids and pressure, and will present the laws of hydrostatics (the fundamental law of fluid statics, Archimedes’ theorem).
Fluid dynamics will be introduced, including concepts such as flow, viscosity, sedimentation, and centrifugation, as they relate to the biology and health sector.
List of Chapters in the Module:
- Exponential variations
- Radioactivity (radioactive decay, activity)
- Fluids: definition, properties, the concept of pressure
- Hydrostatics: fundamental law of fluid statics, Archimedes' theorem.
- Elements of Hydrodynamics: Flow, Bernoulli's Theorem
- Viscosity; Sedimentation and centrifugation
Food-Nutrition-Health
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Given that nutrition has become a focus of interest for an increasingly broad audience, the objective of this course unit is to establish dietary guidelines based on a scientific approach.
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of food and nutrition, covering nutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals), nutritional needs, and the various food groups. It will also cover certain food processing methods and technologies.
Biotechnology and the Challenge of Sustainable Agriculture
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course is offered to second-year Life Sciences students who wish to explore or gain a deeper understanding of how biotechnology can help address current and future challenges related to the sustainable production of agricultural and agri-food resources.
Humans use the properties of photosynthetic organisms and microorganisms to obtain and transform a wide range of resources and services: food for humans and livestock, therapeutic molecules, construction materials, and more. This use depends on natural conditions, and its overall impact is likely to affect the environment in turn—for example, through the extraction or degradation of limited and/or non-renewable resources (water, soil, etc.). Therefore, to ensure that this production of resources is sustainable, its organization (the concept of agronomy) must incorporate an understanding of these impacts and be based on knowledge of the properties of plants and microorganisms to address these challenges. The development and use of new biotechnologies in the fields of applied genetics and plant physiology, the use of microorganisms, and the beneficial or harmful interactions between these microorganisms and plants play a major role in these sustainable agronomy strategies.
Biochemistry
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Fall
Animal Behavior - Ethology
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The goal of this course is to understand animal behavior in an integrative manner, in light of Tinbergen’s four “whys”: from its ontogenesis and neurobiological causes to its evolution and biological functions. In addition to historical, conceptual, and methodological insights, students will be guided to understand the diversity of traits involved as well as the variety of scientific approaches and questions associated with them. Through various examples, this course will highlight the diversity of disciplines that study animal behavior—including neuroscience, ethology, and behavioral ecology—and will help students make informed decisions about continuing their studies in appropriate fields such as animal physiology and neuroscience, evolutionary biology and ecology, or other related areas.
Chemistry for Biologists 2
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This second course unit in general chemistry aims to consolidate and deepen students’ understanding of reactions in aqueous solution, particularly those involving the formation of metal complexes. The principles of thermodynamics will be introduced and applied to the study of chemical equilibria of biological interest. Rather than presenting the material using a mathematical framework that would require a much greater number of class hours, students will be asked to understand the physical meaning of these principles and the main thermodynamic functions, as well as their applications to chemical systems—often of biological interest. In particular, resting membrane potentials and the use of pH-potential diagrams in biology will be covered.
Students will work through course materials (written and audio) in advance of certain lectures and tutorials so that the in-person instruction during lectures and tutorials will enable them to actively participate in the program, understand the concepts presented, and acquire the necessary skills.
English S3
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
ASTRE's Scientific Approach to the Ecological Transition
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Fall
CHOICE 2
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Biochemistry Techniques
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course unit builds on the Biochemistry S3 course unit. This course unit places greater emphasis on practical aspects. The principles of common biochemistry techniques (protein separation techniques, protein quantification by spectrophotometry, Western blot/ELISA, etc.) will be covered in lectures, followed by experiments related to these techniques during lab sessions. Students will be expected to interpret and analyze the experiments conducted during the lab sessions.
Health: Key Issues
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This is a general education course that will cover a wide range of current topics related to human health. The course will address a diverse array of themes through 1.5-hour mini-seminars, taking both a pragmatic and critical approach. The course’s many guest speakers will share their expertise on topics such as immunity, molecular biology, cancer, nutrition, diagnosis, vaccination, bioethics, ecology, neuroscience, emerging diseases, and current and future therapeutic treatments. Each presentation will aim not only to provide cutting-edge knowledge and engage in a critical analysis of its subject matter, but also to guide students in researching and filtering scientific information to combat misinformation. Regarding the major challenges facing human health in the 21st century, we will address the real issues, the false controversies, and the solutions we can offer.
Biological Investigations
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This unit is dedicated to biomarkers. It serves as an introduction to detection and diagnostic techniques. It covers various aspects of biomarker analysis:
Molecular markers / techniques for identification through genomic analysis in medicine and agronomy.
1) The Concept of Polymorphism and Detection Techniques: RFLP / ER-Nucleic Acid Probes
2) RFLP markers and other genetic markers: SNPs, STRs.
3) Search for new molecular markers: differential screening of cDNA libraries / subtractive libraries / transcriptomics
4) Other genomic analyses of polymorphism: AFLP / DNA fingerprinting.
Identification Techniques in the Agri-Food Industry Using Immunological Methods
1) Basic Concepts in Immunological Techniques
2) Agglutination Reactions
3) Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods
Case studies of applications in the agri-food industry:
- study of the diagnostic kit for beet rhizominosis (sandwich ELISA)
- determination of ochratoxin A in cereals (competitive ELISA)
- assessment of fish freshness by histamine determination (competitive ELISA)
Biochemical identification of protein markers and other substances (metabolites)
1) Fundamentals of chromatography and the physical characterization of a spectrum (the interactions involved in each case and the solvents used to carry them out).
2) Affinity chromatography
2.1) Principle of this type of analysis
2.2) Finding the best tag for preparing a specific gel.
2.3) Their usefulness for various areas of research.
3) Study of protein-protein, protein-DNA, and other interactions…
4) HPLC, FPLC, and gas chromatography.
English S4
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
BioInfo
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
1- Linux Basics (1.5 hours lecture + 3 hours lab): Basic commands for navigating Linux and understanding the logic of this language. Short exercises in extracting information using Bash/shell. Material covered for the analysis of alignment files.
2- Databases (3 hours of lectures + 4.5 hours of lab sessions): become familiar with the main bibliographic and biological databases (NCBI, Ensembl, Galaxie, etc.). Learn how to perform relevant and effective searches, analyze and sort data, and describe the various formats
3- Sequence Analysis (1.5 hours of lecture + 4.5 hours of lab): Sequence alignment and comparison, with a brief introduction to phylogenetics (dot plot, BLAST, etc.)
Cellular and Molecular Biology 3
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course in the fourth semester (S4) allows students to consolidate and expand upon the fundamentals of molecular biology and cell biology they acquired in their first year (L1).
- Cell Biology: The course will cover four major topics: 1) The function of the cellular cytoskeleton, 2) Cell adhesion, 3) Protein trafficking, 4) An introduction to cell cycle regulation. Cell biology methodologies will also be presented: immunoprecipitation to detect protein interactions, fluorescence video microscopy to track the dynamics of cellular distribution, and assessment of the importance of proteins of interest in a cellular process using strategies to modulate their expression (RNA interference, overexpression).
- Molecular Biology: After gaining an understanding of the mechanisms of transcription and translation in Semester 3, we will explore the regulation of gene expression: transcriptional regulation (repressors, activators) and attenuation in prokaryotes, as well as the fundamentals of gene expression regulation mechanisms in eukaryotes.
Microbiology 2
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course unit aims to expand on previously acquired knowledge in various fields of microbiology, particularly microbial ecology.
It will cover pathogenic relationships, but will also present examples of symbiotic associations. It will address the applications of microorganisms in biotechnology. It will describe how antibiotics work and the associated resistance phenomena, as well as their impact.
The EU will address the concept of viral ecology by presenting the place and role of viruses in ecosystems. Bacteriophages will be discussed in greater detail, and the mechanisms by which bacteria resist phage infection will be explained. The various types of viral infections in animals will be presented (acute and persistent infections) and illustrated through the study of the pathogenesis of selected viral infections.
Knowledge of microorganisms will be expanded through the study of archaea and a model eukaryotic organism, yeast.
The lab sessions will focus on performing and interpreting an antibiogram, and on titrating bacteriophages.
Introduction to Evolution
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The objective of this course unit is to understand evolutionary processes at both the micro- and macro-evolutionary scales.
Using examples, hands-on activities, and accessible modeling, the course will aim to present, in a concrete and quantitative way, the effects of the four evolutionary forces operating at the individual and population levels (mutation, migration, selection, and genetic drift). The integration of these microevolutionary processes into larger timescales (e.g., lineage differentiation, speciation) will then be addressed. Finally, the course unit will include an introduction to phylogenetic tools (interpreting and constructing phylogenetic trees) that enable the study of macroevolutionary events (diversification, extinction) and the tracing of changes in character states, particularly by incorporating fossil data.
Physiology of Major Body Functions
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The “Major Physiological Functions” course (Semester 4) aims to describe the role and interactions of the body’s various systems that work together to maintain a constant internal environment. Students will acquire anatomical and functional knowledge of the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, and renal systems, as well as their neural and hormonal controls. Students will understand the combined action of these major systems through examples of integrative physiology and pathologies: respiratory and cardiac failure; hemorrhage; and exposure to extreme environments.
Personal and Professional Project
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Spring
Metabolic Biochemistry
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course will enable students to build on the skills they acquired in “Biochemistry S3.” It will help them understand cellular metabolism by:
-an understanding of bioenergetics in order to study the processes by which living cells transport, transmit, utilize, store, and release energy;
-the study of the catabolism and anabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, nucleotides, and amino acids, as well as the metabolic interactions between these pathways.
- a description of metabolic disorders.
Genetics 1
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
In this introductory course on genetic analysis, the objectives are to become familiar with the terminology, principles, concepts, and methods used in formal genetics, as well as their applications, particularly in human and medical genetics. This course covers the genetics of inheritance (Mendelian and non-Mendelian), quantitative genetics, and basic concepts of population genetics. Throughout the course, close connections are drawn between classical genetics and molecular genetics.
CHOICE HAV425V
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
English S4
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
BioInfo
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
1- Linux Basics (1.5 hours lecture + 3 hours lab): Basic commands for navigating Linux and understanding the logic of this language. Short exercises in extracting information using Bash/shell. Material covered for the analysis of alignment files.
2- Databases (3 hours of lectures + 4.5 hours of lab sessions): become familiar with the main bibliographic and biological databases (NCBI, Ensembl, Galaxie, etc.). Learn how to perform relevant and effective searches, analyze and sort data, and describe the various formats
3- Sequence Analysis (1.5 hours of lecture + 4.5 hours of lab): Sequence alignment and comparison, with a brief introduction to phylogenetics (dot plot, BLAST, etc.)
Cellular and Molecular Biology 3
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course in the fourth semester (S4) allows students to consolidate and expand upon the fundamentals of molecular biology and cell biology they acquired in their first year (L1).
- Cell Biology: The course will cover four major topics: 1) The function of the cellular cytoskeleton, 2) Cell adhesion, 3) Protein trafficking, 4) An introduction to cell cycle regulation. Cell biology methodologies will also be presented: immunoprecipitation to detect protein interactions, fluorescence video microscopy to track the dynamics of cellular distribution, and assessment of the importance of proteins of interest in a cellular process using strategies to modulate their expression (RNA interference, overexpression).
- Molecular Biology: After gaining an understanding of the mechanisms of transcription and translation in Semester 3, we will explore the regulation of gene expression: transcriptional regulation (repressors, activators) and attenuation in prokaryotes, as well as the fundamentals of gene expression regulation mechanisms in eukaryotes.
Introduction to Evolution
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The objective of this course unit is to understand evolutionary processes at both the micro- and macro-evolutionary scales.
Using examples, hands-on activities, and accessible modeling, the course will aim to present, in a concrete and quantitative way, the effects of the four evolutionary forces operating at the individual and population levels (mutation, migration, selection, and genetic drift). The integration of these microevolutionary processes into larger timescales (e.g., lineage differentiation, speciation) will then be addressed. Finally, the course unit will include an introduction to phylogenetic tools (interpreting and constructing phylogenetic trees) that enable the study of macroevolutionary events (diversification, extinction) and the tracing of changes in character states, particularly by incorporating fossil data.
Health: Key Issues
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This is a general education course that will cover a wide range of current topics related to human health. The course will address a diverse array of themes through 1.5-hour mini-seminars, taking both a pragmatic and critical approach. The course’s many guest speakers will share their expertise on topics such as immunity, molecular biology, cancer, nutrition, diagnosis, vaccination, bioethics, ecology, neuroscience, emerging diseases, and current and future therapeutic treatments. Each presentation will aim not only to provide cutting-edge knowledge and engage in a critical analysis of its subject matter, but also to guide students in researching and filtering scientific information to combat misinformation. Regarding the major challenges facing human health in the 21st century, we will address the real issues, the false controversies, and the solutions we can offer.
Physiology of Major Body Functions
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The “Major Physiological Functions” course (Semester 4) aims to describe the role and interactions of the body’s various systems that work together to maintain a constant internal environment. Students will acquire anatomical and functional knowledge of the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, and renal systems, as well as their neural and hormonal controls. Students will understand the combined action of these major systems through examples of integrative physiology and pathologies: respiratory and cardiac failure; hemorrhage; and exposure to extreme environments.
Personal and Professional Project
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Spring
Advanced Course in Cellular and Molecular Biology
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course unit aims to provide a deeper understanding, in small groups through tutorial and lab sessions, of the fundamental molecular and cellular processes covered in the BMC2 and BMC3 courses by approaching them through more concrete concepts. Instruction will be based on real-world data (experimental results, scientific articles) to clearly explain key scientific approaches and teach students how to analyze and interpret results (Example 1: demonstrating an in vivo interaction through the expression of labeled proteins in cell lines, followed by immunoprecipitation and Western blot). Example 2: the principle of immunofluorescence; intracellular distribution of an antigen. Example 3: in vitro transcription and translation, and the study of interactions via GST pull-down). The lab sessions will illustrate some of these basic approaches: cell culture, construction of expression vectors, transfection, immunolabeling, and fluorescence microscopy.
Metabolic Biochemistry
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course will enable students to build on the skills they acquired in “Biochemistry S3.” It will help them understand cellular metabolism by:
-an understanding of bioenergetics in order to study the processes by which living cells transport, transmit, utilize, store, and release energy;
-the study of the catabolism and anabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, nucleotides, and amino acids, as well as the metabolic interactions between these pathways.
- a description of metabolic disorders.
Genetics 1
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
In this introductory course on genetic analysis, the objectives are to become familiar with the terminology, principles, concepts, and methods used in formal genetics, as well as their applications, particularly in human and medical genetics. This course covers the genetics of inheritance (Mendelian and non-Mendelian), quantitative genetics, and basic concepts of population genetics. Throughout the course, close connections are drawn between classical genetics and molecular genetics.
CHOICE HAV427V
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
English S4
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
BioInfo
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
1- Linux Basics (1.5 hours lecture + 3 hours lab): Basic commands for navigating Linux and understanding the logic of this language. Short exercises in extracting information using Bash/shell. Material covered for the analysis of alignment files.
2- Databases (3 hours of lectures + 4.5 hours of lab sessions): become familiar with the main bibliographic and biological databases (NCBI, Ensembl, Galaxie, etc.). Learn how to perform relevant and effective searches, analyze and sort data, and describe the various formats
3- Sequence Analysis (1.5 hours of lecture + 4.5 hours of lab): Sequence alignment and comparison, with a brief introduction to phylogenetics (dot plot, BLAST, etc.)
Cellular and Molecular Biology 3
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course in the fourth semester (S4) allows students to consolidate and expand upon the fundamentals of molecular biology and cell biology they acquired in their first year (L1).
- Cell Biology: The course will cover four major topics: 1) The function of the cellular cytoskeleton, 2) Cell adhesion, 3) Protein trafficking, 4) An introduction to cell cycle regulation. Cell biology methodologies will also be presented: immunoprecipitation to detect protein interactions, fluorescence video microscopy to track the dynamics of cellular distribution, and assessment of the importance of proteins of interest in a cellular process using strategies to modulate their expression (RNA interference, overexpression).
- Molecular Biology: After gaining an understanding of the mechanisms of transcription and translation in Semester 3, we will explore the regulation of gene expression: transcriptional regulation (repressors, activators) and attenuation in prokaryotes, as well as the fundamentals of gene expression regulation mechanisms in eukaryotes.
Biochemistry Techniques
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course unit builds on the Biochemistry S3 course unit. This course unit places greater emphasis on practical aspects. The principles of common biochemistry techniques (protein separation techniques, protein quantification by spectrophotometry, Western blot/ELISA, etc.) will be covered in lectures, followed by experiments related to these techniques during lab sessions. Students will be expected to interpret and analyze the experiments conducted during the lab sessions.
Introduction to Evolution
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The objective of this course unit is to understand evolutionary processes at both the micro- and macro-evolutionary scales.
Using examples, hands-on activities, and accessible modeling, the course will aim to present, in a concrete and quantitative way, the effects of the four evolutionary forces operating at the individual and population levels (mutation, migration, selection, and genetic drift). The integration of these microevolutionary processes into larger timescales (e.g., lineage differentiation, speciation) will then be addressed. Finally, the course unit will include an introduction to phylogenetic tools (interpreting and constructing phylogenetic trees) that enable the study of macroevolutionary events (diversification, extinction) and the tracing of changes in character states, particularly by incorporating fossil data.
Physiology of Major Body Functions
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The “Major Physiological Functions” course (Semester 4) aims to describe the role and interactions of the body’s various systems that work together to maintain a constant internal environment. Students will acquire anatomical and functional knowledge of the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, and renal systems, as well as their neural and hormonal controls. Students will understand the combined action of these major systems through examples of integrative physiology and pathologies: respiratory and cardiac failure; hemorrhage; and exposure to extreme environments.
Personal and Professional Project
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Spring
Advanced Course in Cellular and Molecular Biology
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course unit aims to provide a deeper understanding, in small groups through tutorial and lab sessions, of the fundamental molecular and cellular processes covered in the BMC2 and BMC3 courses by approaching them through more concrete concepts. Instruction will be based on real-world data (experimental results, scientific articles) to clearly explain key scientific approaches and teach students how to analyze and interpret results (Example 1: demonstrating an in vivo interaction through the expression of labeled proteins in cell lines, followed by immunoprecipitation and Western blot). Example 2: the principle of immunofluorescence; intracellular distribution of an antigen. Example 3: in vitro transcription and translation, and the study of interactions via GST pull-down). The lab sessions will illustrate some of these basic approaches: cell culture, construction of expression vectors, transfection, immunolabeling, and fluorescence microscopy.
Metabolic Biochemistry
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course will enable students to build on the skills they acquired in “Biochemistry S3.” It will help them understand cellular metabolism by:
-an understanding of bioenergetics in order to study the processes by which living cells transport, transmit, utilize, store, and release energy;
-the study of the catabolism and anabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, nucleotides, and amino acids, as well as the metabolic interactions between these pathways.
- a description of metabolic disorders.
Genetics 1
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
In this introductory course on genetic analysis, the objectives are to become familiar with the terminology, principles, concepts, and methods used in formal genetics, as well as their applications, particularly in human and medical genetics. This course covers the genetics of inheritance (Mendelian and non-Mendelian), quantitative genetics, and basic concepts of population genetics. Throughout the course, close connections are drawn between classical genetics and molecular genetics.
ASTRE's Scientific Approach to the Ecological Transition
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Fall
Cellular and Molecular Biology 2
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course in the third semester (S3) allows students to consolidate and expand upon the fundamentals of molecular biology and cell biology they acquired in their first year (L1).
Molecular Biology Section: The molecular and structural foundations of nucleic acids will be explored and examined in depth to understand the physicochemical properties of nucleic acids—which open up various avenues for technological applications—and the molecular mechanisms underlying the key processes in molecular biology, such as DNA replication, gene transcription into mRNA, and the translation of mRNA into proteins. These processes, illustrated by experimental evidence derived from various historical studies, will be studied in depth in prokaryotes. Comparisons with eukaryotes will also be discussed subsequently. The molecular mechanisms of DNA repair will also be described and explored.
Cell Biology Section: This section will cover the major concepts of membrane-bound and cytosolic protein complex formation, particularly in the context of cellular signaling pathways. The concepts of ligands, receptors, scaffolding proteins, signaling enzymes, intracellular second messengers, and response kinetics will be presented. Techniques in biochemistry and cell biology used to detect the presence and localization of proteins in cells and tissues will be discussed.
Fundamentals of Plant Physiology
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course is a cross-disciplinary course in the second year of the SV program designed to provide biology students with a fundamental understanding of how plants function, enabling them to grasp the current challenges in plant agricultural sciences.
The following basic concepts of plant physiology and functional biology will be studied:
Key experimental approaches: plant transgenesis, forward and reverse genetics
Fundamentals of Autotrophy
mechanisms underlying the major stages of angiosperm development: meristem function, floral transition, and fertilization.
auxin, a key hormone involved in plant development and their response to the abiotic environment
The laboratory sessions will allow students to experiment with regulating plant water uptake and to analyze plant mineral nutrition using various biochemical assays (flame photometry, spectrophotometry).
Description of Variability 1
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Course Description (max 10 lines):
The objective of this learning unit is to help students understand how to measure variation in biology and how it can be represented. It draws on concrete examples from various fields of biology (ecology, developmental biology, evolution, genetics, physiology) and provides the statistical tools for measuring this variation and the graphical methods for representing it. Statistical concepts such as 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 through tutorials based on biological problems.
Competencies targeted by the EU (see competency framework):
- Descriptive analytical tools in biology; an introduction to biostatistics through the analysis of biological patterns
Microbiology 1
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course covers the fundamentals of microbiology. It will explore the structures of microorganisms—both prokaryotes and eukaryotes—as well as viruses. It will provide an overview of the diversity of these microorganisms and describe their modes of reproduction.
For bacteria, the trophic types and factors influencing growth will be discussed, along with the study of growth in non-renewable media. Genetics and horizontal gene transfer among bacteria will be addressed.
Several eukaryotic microorganisms will be studied: their habitats, lifestyles, ecological roles or parasitism, as well as their modes of development.
In virology, the main viral replication cycles will be detailed, and modes of transmission and the concept of viral pathogenesis will be discussed. The principles of antiviral vaccination and antiviral treatments will be presented and illustrated using concrete examples.
The principles of antiviral vaccination and antiviral treatments will be presented and illustrated using concrete examples.
Laboratory sessions will provide an introduction to sterile handling techniques for microorganisms, bacterial counting, and conjugation.
Fundamentals of Animal Physiology and Immunology
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This module is designed to enable students to acquire:
Basic Concepts in Physiology: The concept of homeostasis; levels of organization in the human body; compartments of the internal environment; study of the endocrine system; acid-base and water-mineral balances; anatomical and functional studies of the central and peripheral nervous systems.
Basic Concepts in Immunology:
General overview of the immune system; study of T and B lymphocytes and antigen-presenting cells; study of antimicrobial immunity and the complement system.
Biochemistry, 3rd Semester
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course enables students to consolidate the fundamentals of biochemistry acquired in the first year of undergraduate studies by approaching the discipline through a cross-disciplinary study of enzymes involved in cellular metabolism, particularly glycolysis. Several areas of biochemistry will be covered: the fundamentals of Michaelis-Menten enzyme kinetics and a description of the metabolic reactions involved in glycolysis. Finally, the technical aspects will be addressed through the presentation and analysis of techniques used to measure enzyme activity and to purify, quantify, and detect proteins.
Chemistry for Biologists 2
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This second course unit in general chemistry aims to consolidate and deepen students’ understanding of reactions in aqueous solution, particularly those involving the formation of metal complexes. The principles of thermodynamics will be introduced and applied to the study of chemical equilibria of biological interest. Rather than presenting the material using a mathematical framework that would require a much greater number of class hours, students will be asked to understand the physical meaning of these principles and the main thermodynamic functions, as well as their applications to chemical systems—often of biological interest. In particular, resting membrane potentials and the use of pH-potential diagrams in biology will be covered.
Students will work through course materials (written and audio) in advance of certain lectures and tutorials so that the in-person instruction during lectures and tutorials will enable them to actively participate in the program, understand the concepts presented, and acquire the necessary skills.
English S3
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Fluid Biophysics
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The first part (about one-third) of the module will cover (biological) processes whose temporal evolution is described by an exponential law (growth or decline).
Radioactivity will be discussed as an example of such a process and for its applications in the fields of biology, health, and the environment (dating, tracing, etc.).
The second part (about two-thirds) of the module will introduce the concepts of fluids and pressure, and will present the laws of hydrostatics (the fundamental law of fluid statics, Archimedes’ theorem).
Fluid dynamics will be introduced, including concepts such as flow, viscosity, sedimentation, and centrifugation, as they relate to the biology and health sector.
List of Chapters in the Module:
- Exponential variations
- Radioactivity (radioactive decay, activity)
- Fluids: definition, properties, the concept of pressure
- Hydrostatics: fundamental law of fluid statics, Archimedes' theorem.
- Elements of Hydrodynamics: Flow, Bernoulli's Theorem
- Viscosity; Sedimentation and centrifugation
Food-Nutrition-Health
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Given that nutrition has become a focus of interest for an increasingly broad audience, the objective of this course unit is to establish dietary guidelines based on a scientific approach.
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of food and nutrition, covering nutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals), nutritional needs, and the various food groups. It will also cover certain food processing methods and technologies.
Biotechnology and the Challenge of Sustainable Agriculture
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course is offered to second-year Life Sciences students who wish to explore or gain a deeper understanding of how biotechnology can help address current and future challenges related to the sustainable production of agricultural and agri-food resources.
Humans use the properties of photosynthetic organisms and microorganisms to obtain and transform a wide range of resources and services: food for humans and livestock, therapeutic molecules, construction materials, and more. This use depends on natural conditions, and its overall impact is likely to affect the environment in turn—for example, through the extraction or degradation of limited and/or non-renewable resources (water, soil, etc.). Therefore, to ensure that this production of resources is sustainable, its organization (the concept of agronomy) must incorporate an understanding of these impacts and be based on knowledge of the properties of plants and microorganisms to address these challenges. The development and use of new biotechnologies in the fields of applied genetics and plant physiology, the use of microorganisms, and the beneficial or harmful interactions between these microorganisms and plants play a major role in these sustainable agronomy strategies.
Biochemistry
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Fall
Animal Behavior - Ethology
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The goal of this course is to understand animal behavior in an integrative manner, in light of Tinbergen’s four “whys”: from its ontogenesis and neurobiological causes to its evolution and biological functions. In addition to historical, conceptual, and methodological insights, students will be guided to understand the diversity of traits involved as well as the variety of scientific approaches and questions associated with them. Through various examples, this course will highlight the diversity of disciplines that study animal behavior—including neuroscience, ethology, and behavioral ecology—and will help students make informed decisions about continuing their studies in appropriate fields such as animal physiology and neuroscience, evolutionary biology and ecology, or other related areas.
Basic Concepts and Tools in Computer Science: PIX
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
IT infrastructure:
1. Information and Data
Conduct research and monitor information (search engines, social media, etc.)
Manage data (file manager, databases, etc.)
Processing Data (Spreadsheet)
2. Communication and Collaboration
Interact (email, video conferencing, etc.)
Share and post (sharing platforms, forums, comment sections, etc.)
Collaborate in a group (collaborative work platform, document sharing, etc.)
Getting involved in the digital world (building a public presence on the web, etc.)
3- Content Creation
Create text-based documents (word processing, presentations, etc.)
Develop multimedia documents (capture and editing of images, audio, video, animations, etc.)
Adapt documents to their intended purpose (format conversion tools, etc.)
Programming (simple software development, solving logical problems, etc.)
4- Protection and Safety
Securing the digital environment (security software, encryption, etc.)
Protecting personal data and privacy (privacy settings, etc.)
Protecting Health, Well-Being, and the Environment
5- Environment and Digital Technology
Troubleshoot technical issues (software configuration and maintenance, etc.)
Setting up a digital environment (operating system, installing new software, etc.)
Cellular and Molecular Biology 2
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course in the third semester (S3) allows students to consolidate and expand upon the fundamentals of molecular biology and cell biology they acquired in their first year (L1).
Molecular Biology Section: The molecular and structural foundations of nucleic acids will be explored and examined in depth to understand the physicochemical properties of nucleic acids—which open up various avenues for technological applications—and the molecular mechanisms underlying the key processes in molecular biology, such as DNA replication, gene transcription into mRNA, and the translation of mRNA into proteins. These processes, illustrated by experimental evidence derived from various historical studies, will be studied in depth in prokaryotes. Comparisons with eukaryotes will also be discussed subsequently. The molecular mechanisms of DNA repair will also be described and explored.
Cell Biology Section: This section will cover the major concepts of membrane-bound and cytosolic protein complex formation, particularly in the context of cellular signaling pathways. The concepts of ligands, receptors, scaffolding proteins, signaling enzymes, intracellular second messengers, and response kinetics will be presented. Techniques in biochemistry and cell biology used to detect the presence and localization of proteins in cells and tissues will be discussed.
Fundamentals of Plant Physiology
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course is a cross-disciplinary course in the second year of the SV program designed to provide biology students with a fundamental understanding of how plants function, enabling them to grasp the current challenges in plant agricultural sciences.
The following basic concepts of plant physiology and functional biology will be studied:
Key experimental approaches: plant transgenesis, forward and reverse genetics
Fundamentals of Autotrophy
mechanisms underlying the major stages of angiosperm development: meristem function, floral transition, and fertilization.
auxin, a key hormone involved in plant development and their response to the abiotic environment
The laboratory sessions will allow students to experiment with regulating plant water uptake and to analyze plant mineral nutrition using various biochemical assays (flame photometry, spectrophotometry).
Description of Variability 1
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Course Description (max 10 lines):
The objective of this learning unit is to help students understand how to measure variation in biology and how it can be represented. It draws on concrete examples from various fields of biology (ecology, developmental biology, evolution, genetics, physiology) and provides the statistical tools for measuring this variation and the graphical methods for representing it. Statistical concepts such as 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 through tutorials based on biological problems.
Competencies targeted by the EU (see competency framework):
- Descriptive analytical tools in biology; an introduction to biostatistics through the analysis of biological patterns
Microbiology 1
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course covers the fundamentals of microbiology. It will explore the structures of microorganisms—both prokaryotes and eukaryotes—as well as viruses. It will provide an overview of the diversity of these microorganisms and describe their modes of reproduction.
For bacteria, the trophic types and factors influencing growth will be discussed, along with the study of growth in non-renewable media. Genetics and horizontal gene transfer among bacteria will be addressed.
Several eukaryotic microorganisms will be studied: their habitats, lifestyles, ecological roles or parasitism, as well as their modes of development.
In virology, the main viral replication cycles will be detailed, and modes of transmission and the concept of viral pathogenesis will be discussed. The principles of antiviral vaccination and antiviral treatments will be presented and illustrated using concrete examples.
The principles of antiviral vaccination and antiviral treatments will be presented and illustrated using concrete examples.
Laboratory sessions will provide an introduction to sterile handling techniques for microorganisms, bacterial counting, and conjugation.
Fundamentals of Animal Physiology and Immunology
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This module is designed to enable students to acquire:
Basic Concepts in Physiology: The concept of homeostasis; levels of organization in the human body; compartments of the internal environment; study of the endocrine system; acid-base and water-mineral balances; anatomical and functional studies of the central and peripheral nervous systems.
Basic Concepts in Immunology:
General overview of the immune system; study of T and B lymphocytes and antigen-presenting cells; study of antimicrobial immunity and the complement system.
Biochemistry, 3rd Semester
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course enables students to consolidate the fundamentals of biochemistry acquired in the first year of undergraduate studies by approaching the discipline through a cross-disciplinary study of enzymes involved in cellular metabolism, particularly glycolysis. Several areas of biochemistry will be covered: the fundamentals of Michaelis-Menten enzyme kinetics and a description of the metabolic reactions involved in glycolysis. Finally, the technical aspects will be addressed through the presentation and analysis of techniques used to measure enzyme activity and to purify, quantify, and detect proteins.
Chemistry for Biologists 2
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This second course unit in general chemistry aims to consolidate and deepen students’ understanding of reactions in aqueous solution, particularly those involving the formation of metal complexes. The principles of thermodynamics will be introduced and applied to the study of chemical equilibria of biological interest. Rather than presenting the material using a mathematical framework that would require a much greater number of class hours, students will be asked to understand the physical meaning of these principles and the main thermodynamic functions, as well as their applications to chemical systems—often of biological interest. In particular, resting membrane potentials and the use of pH-potential diagrams in biology will be covered.
Students will work through course materials (written and audio) in advance of certain lectures and tutorials so that the in-person instruction during lectures and tutorials will enable them to actively participate in the program, understand the concepts presented, and acquire the necessary skills.
English S3
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Fluid Biophysics
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The first part (about one-third) of the module will cover (biological) processes whose temporal evolution is described by an exponential law (growth or decline).
Radioactivity will be discussed as an example of such a process and for its applications in the fields of biology, health, and the environment (dating, tracing, etc.).
The second part (about two-thirds) of the module will introduce the concepts of fluids and pressure, and will present the laws of hydrostatics (the fundamental law of fluid statics, Archimedes’ theorem).
Fluid dynamics will be introduced, including concepts such as flow, viscosity, sedimentation, and centrifugation, as they relate to the biology and health sector.
List of Chapters in the Module:
- Exponential variations
- Radioactivity (radioactive decay, activity)
- Fluids: definition, properties, the concept of pressure
- Hydrostatics: fundamental law of fluid statics, Archimedes' theorem.
- Elements of Hydrodynamics: Flow, Bernoulli's Theorem
- Viscosity; Sedimentation and centrifugation
Food-Nutrition-Health
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Given that nutrition has become a focus of interest for an increasingly broad audience, the objective of this course unit is to establish dietary guidelines based on a scientific approach.
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of food and nutrition, covering nutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals), nutritional needs, and the various food groups. It will also cover certain food processing methods and technologies.
Biotechnology and the Challenge of Sustainable Agriculture
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course is offered to second-year Life Sciences students who wish to explore or gain a deeper understanding of how biotechnology can help address current and future challenges related to the sustainable production of agricultural and agri-food resources.
Humans use the properties of photosynthetic organisms and microorganisms to obtain and transform a wide range of resources and services: food for humans and livestock, therapeutic molecules, construction materials, and more. This use depends on natural conditions, and its overall impact is likely to affect the environment in turn—for example, through the extraction or degradation of limited and/or non-renewable resources (water, soil, etc.). Therefore, to ensure that this production of resources is sustainable, its organization (the concept of agronomy) must incorporate an understanding of these impacts and be based on knowledge of the properties of plants and microorganisms to address these challenges. The development and use of new biotechnologies in the fields of applied genetics and plant physiology, the use of microorganisms, and the beneficial or harmful interactions between these microorganisms and plants play a major role in these sustainable agronomy strategies.
Biochemistry
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Fall
Animal Behavior - Ethology
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The goal of this course is to understand animal behavior in an integrative manner, in light of Tinbergen’s four “whys”: from its ontogenesis and neurobiological causes to its evolution and biological functions. In addition to historical, conceptual, and methodological insights, students will be guided to understand the diversity of traits involved as well as the variety of scientific approaches and questions associated with them. Through various examples, this course will highlight the diversity of disciplines that study animal behavior—including neuroscience, ethology, and behavioral ecology—and will help students make informed decisions about continuing their studies in appropriate fields such as animal physiology and neuroscience, evolutionary biology and ecology, or other related areas.
Basic Concepts and Tools in Computer Science: PIX
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
IT infrastructure:
1. Information and Data
Conduct research and monitor information (search engines, social media, etc.)
Manage data (file manager, databases, etc.)
Processing Data (Spreadsheet)
2. Communication and Collaboration
Interact (email, video conferencing, etc.)
Share and post (sharing platforms, forums, comment sections, etc.)
Collaborate in a group (collaborative work platform, document sharing, etc.)
Getting involved in the digital world (building a public presence on the web, etc.)
3- Content Creation
Create text-based documents (word processing, presentations, etc.)
Develop multimedia documents (capture and editing of images, audio, video, animations, etc.)
Adapt documents to their intended purpose (format conversion tools, etc.)
Programming (simple software development, solving logical problems, etc.)
4- Protection and Safety
Securing the digital environment (security software, encryption, etc.)
Protecting personal data and privacy (privacy settings, etc.)
Protecting Health, Well-Being, and the Environment
5- Environment and Digital Technology
Troubleshoot technical issues (software configuration and maintenance, etc.)
Setting up a digital environment (operating system, installing new software, etc.)
ASTRE's Scientific Approach to the Ecological Transition
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Fall
CHOICE HAV401V
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
English S4
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
BioInfo
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
1- Linux Basics (1.5 hours lecture + 3 hours lab): Basic commands for navigating Linux and understanding the logic of this language. Short exercises in extracting information using Bash/shell. Material covered for the analysis of alignment files.
2- Databases (3 hours of lectures + 4.5 hours of lab sessions): become familiar with the main bibliographic and biological databases (NCBI, Ensembl, Galaxie, etc.). Learn how to perform relevant and effective searches, analyze and sort data, and describe the various formats
3- Sequence Analysis (1.5 hours of lecture + 4.5 hours of lab): Sequence alignment and comparison, with a brief introduction to phylogenetics (dot plot, BLAST, etc.)
Cellular and Molecular Biology 3
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course in the fourth semester (S4) allows students to consolidate and expand upon the fundamentals of molecular biology and cell biology they acquired in their first year (L1).
- Cell Biology: The course will cover four major topics: 1) The function of the cellular cytoskeleton, 2) Cell adhesion, 3) Protein trafficking, 4) An introduction to cell cycle regulation. Cell biology methodologies will also be presented: immunoprecipitation to detect protein interactions, fluorescence video microscopy to track the dynamics of cellular distribution, and assessment of the importance of proteins of interest in a cellular process using strategies to modulate their expression (RNA interference, overexpression).
- Molecular Biology: After gaining an understanding of the mechanisms of transcription and translation in Semester 3, we will explore the regulation of gene expression: transcriptional regulation (repressors, activators) and attenuation in prokaryotes, as well as the fundamentals of gene expression regulation mechanisms in eukaryotes.
Microbiology 2
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course unit aims to expand on previously acquired knowledge in various fields of microbiology, particularly microbial ecology.
It will cover pathogenic relationships, but will also present examples of symbiotic associations. It will address the applications of microorganisms in biotechnology. It will describe how antibiotics work and the associated resistance phenomena, as well as their impact.
The EU will address the concept of viral ecology by presenting the place and role of viruses in ecosystems. Bacteriophages will be discussed in greater detail, and the mechanisms by which bacteria resist phage infection will be explained. The various types of viral infections in animals will be presented (acute and persistent infections) and illustrated through the study of the pathogenesis of selected viral infections.
Knowledge of microorganisms will be expanded through the study of archaea and a model eukaryotic organism, yeast.
The lab sessions will focus on performing and interpreting an antibiogram, and on titrating bacteriophages.
Introduction to Evolution
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The objective of this course unit is to understand evolutionary processes at both the micro- and macro-evolutionary scales.
Using examples, hands-on activities, and accessible modeling, the course will aim to present, in a concrete and quantitative way, the effects of the four evolutionary forces operating at the individual and population levels (mutation, migration, selection, and genetic drift). The integration of these microevolutionary processes into larger timescales (e.g., lineage differentiation, speciation) will then be addressed. Finally, the course unit will include an introduction to phylogenetic tools (interpreting and constructing phylogenetic trees) that enable the study of macroevolutionary events (diversification, extinction) and the tracing of changes in character states, particularly by incorporating fossil data.
Physiology of Major Body Functions
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The “Major Physiological Functions” course (Semester 4) aims to describe the role and interactions of the body’s various systems that work together to maintain a constant internal environment. Students will acquire anatomical and functional knowledge of the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, and renal systems, as well as their neural and hormonal controls. Students will understand the combined action of these major systems through examples of integrative physiology and pathologies: respiratory and cardiac failure; hemorrhage; and exposure to extreme environments.
Personal and Professional Project
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Spring
Advanced Course in Cellular and Molecular Biology
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course unit aims to provide a deeper understanding, in small groups through tutorial and lab sessions, of the fundamental molecular and cellular processes covered in the BMC2 and BMC3 courses by approaching them through more concrete concepts. Instruction will be based on real-world data (experimental results, scientific articles) to clearly explain key scientific approaches and teach students how to analyze and interpret results (Example 1: demonstrating an in vivo interaction through the expression of labeled proteins in cell lines, followed by immunoprecipitation and Western blot). Example 2: the principle of immunofluorescence; intracellular distribution of an antigen. Example 3: in vitro transcription and translation, and the study of interactions via GST pull-down). The lab sessions will illustrate some of these basic approaches: cell culture, construction of expression vectors, transfection, immunolabeling, and fluorescence microscopy.
Metabolic Biochemistry
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course will enable students to build on the skills they acquired in “Biochemistry S3.” It will help them understand cellular metabolism by:
-an understanding of bioenergetics in order to study the processes by which living cells transport, transmit, utilize, store, and release energy;
-the study of the catabolism and anabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, nucleotides, and amino acids, as well as the metabolic interactions between these pathways.
- a description of metabolic disorders.
Genetics 1
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
In this introductory course on genetic analysis, the objectives are to become familiar with the terminology, principles, concepts, and methods used in formal genetics, as well as their applications, particularly in human and medical genetics. This course covers the genetics of inheritance (Mendelian and non-Mendelian), quantitative genetics, and basic concepts of population genetics. Throughout the course, close connections are drawn between classical genetics and molecular genetics.
CHOICE HAV415V
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
English S4
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
BioInfo
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
1- Linux Basics (1.5 hours lecture + 3 hours lab): Basic commands for navigating Linux and understanding the logic of this language. Short exercises in extracting information using Bash/shell. Material covered for the analysis of alignment files.
2- Databases (3 hours of lectures + 4.5 hours of lab sessions): become familiar with the main bibliographic and biological databases (NCBI, Ensembl, Galaxie, etc.). Learn how to perform relevant and effective searches, analyze and sort data, and describe the various formats
3- Sequence Analysis (1.5 hours of lecture + 4.5 hours of lab): Sequence alignment and comparison, with a brief introduction to phylogenetics (dot plot, BLAST, etc.)
Cellular and Molecular Biology 3
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course in the fourth semester (S4) allows students to consolidate and expand upon the fundamentals of molecular biology and cell biology they acquired in their first year (L1).
- Cell Biology: The course will cover four major topics: 1) The function of the cellular cytoskeleton, 2) Cell adhesion, 3) Protein trafficking, 4) An introduction to cell cycle regulation. Cell biology methodologies will also be presented: immunoprecipitation to detect protein interactions, fluorescence video microscopy to track the dynamics of cellular distribution, and assessment of the importance of proteins of interest in a cellular process using strategies to modulate their expression (RNA interference, overexpression).
- Molecular Biology: After gaining an understanding of the mechanisms of transcription and translation in Semester 3, we will explore the regulation of gene expression: transcriptional regulation (repressors, activators) and attenuation in prokaryotes, as well as the fundamentals of gene expression regulation mechanisms in eukaryotes.
Microbiology 2
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course unit aims to expand on previously acquired knowledge in various fields of microbiology, particularly microbial ecology.
It will cover pathogenic relationships, but will also present examples of symbiotic associations. It will address the applications of microorganisms in biotechnology. It will describe how antibiotics work and the associated resistance phenomena, as well as their impact.
The EU will address the concept of viral ecology by presenting the place and role of viruses in ecosystems. Bacteriophages will be discussed in greater detail, and the mechanisms by which bacteria resist phage infection will be explained. The various types of viral infections in animals will be presented (acute and persistent infections) and illustrated through the study of the pathogenesis of selected viral infections.
Knowledge of microorganisms will be expanded through the study of archaea and a model eukaryotic organism, yeast.
The lab sessions will focus on performing and interpreting an antibiogram, and on titrating bacteriophages.
Introduction to Evolution
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The objective of this course unit is to understand evolutionary processes at both the micro- and macro-evolutionary scales.
Using examples, hands-on activities, and accessible modeling, the course will aim to present, in a concrete and quantitative way, the effects of the four evolutionary forces operating at the individual and population levels (mutation, migration, selection, and genetic drift). The integration of these microevolutionary processes into larger timescales (e.g., lineage differentiation, speciation) will then be addressed. Finally, the course unit will include an introduction to phylogenetic tools (interpreting and constructing phylogenetic trees) that enable the study of macroevolutionary events (diversification, extinction) and the tracing of changes in character states, particularly by incorporating fossil data.
Physiology of Major Body Functions
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The “Major Physiological Functions” course (Semester 4) aims to describe the role and interactions of the body’s various systems that work together to maintain a constant internal environment. Students will acquire anatomical and functional knowledge of the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, and renal systems, as well as their neural and hormonal controls. Students will understand the combined action of these major systems through examples of integrative physiology and pathologies: respiratory and cardiac failure; hemorrhage; and exposure to extreme environments.
Personal and Professional Project
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Spring
Metabolic Biochemistry
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course will enable students to build on the skills they acquired in “Biochemistry S3.” It will help them understand cellular metabolism by:
-an understanding of bioenergetics in order to study the processes by which living cells transport, transmit, utilize, store, and release energy;
-the study of the catabolism and anabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, nucleotides, and amino acids, as well as the metabolic interactions between these pathways.
- a description of metabolic disorders.
Genetics 1
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
In this introductory course on genetic analysis, the objectives are to become familiar with the terminology, principles, concepts, and methods used in formal genetics, as well as their applications, particularly in human and medical genetics. This course covers the genetics of inheritance (Mendelian and non-Mendelian), quantitative genetics, and basic concepts of population genetics. Throughout the course, close connections are drawn between classical genetics and molecular genetics.
Symbiotic and Pathogenic Interactions in Plants
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Plants interact with a multitude of microorganisms in their environment. These microorganisms act alone or in communities. They can have negative or positive effects on plants, their growth, their nutrition, and their health. In this module, we will present the various forms these biotic interactions can take (symbiosis, parasitism, and pathogenicity), drawing on well-known biological examples (mycorrhizal and nitrogen-fixing symbioses, and diseases caused by various microorganisms). This will also be an opportunity to introduce emerging concepts in the field, such as the microbiome and the holobiont.
CHOICE HAV417V
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
English S4
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
BioInfo
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
1- Linux Basics (1.5 hours lecture + 3 hours lab): Basic commands for navigating Linux and understanding the logic of this language. Short exercises in extracting information using Bash/shell. Material covered for the analysis of alignment files.
2- Databases (3 hours of lectures + 4.5 hours of lab sessions): become familiar with the main bibliographic and biological databases (NCBI, Ensembl, Galaxie, etc.). Learn how to perform relevant and effective searches, analyze and sort data, and describe the various formats
3- Sequence Analysis (1.5 hours of lecture + 4.5 hours of lab): Sequence alignment and comparison, with a brief introduction to phylogenetics (dot plot, BLAST, etc.)
Cellular and Molecular Biology 3
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course in the fourth semester (S4) allows students to consolidate and expand upon the fundamentals of molecular biology and cell biology they acquired in their first year (L1).
- Cell Biology: The course will cover four major topics: 1) The function of the cellular cytoskeleton, 2) Cell adhesion, 3) Protein trafficking, 4) An introduction to cell cycle regulation. Cell biology methodologies will also be presented: immunoprecipitation to detect protein interactions, fluorescence video microscopy to track the dynamics of cellular distribution, and assessment of the importance of proteins of interest in a cellular process using strategies to modulate their expression (RNA interference, overexpression).
- Molecular Biology: After gaining an understanding of the mechanisms of transcription and translation in Semester 3, we will explore the regulation of gene expression: transcriptional regulation (repressors, activators) and attenuation in prokaryotes, as well as the fundamentals of gene expression regulation mechanisms in eukaryotes.
Microbiology 2
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course unit aims to expand on previously acquired knowledge in various fields of microbiology, particularly microbial ecology.
It will cover pathogenic relationships, but will also present examples of symbiotic associations. It will address the applications of microorganisms in biotechnology. It will describe how antibiotics work and the associated resistance phenomena, as well as their impact.
The EU will address the concept of viral ecology by presenting the place and role of viruses in ecosystems. Bacteriophages will be discussed in greater detail, and the mechanisms by which bacteria resist phage infection will be explained. The various types of viral infections in animals will be presented (acute and persistent infections) and illustrated through the study of the pathogenesis of selected viral infections.
Knowledge of microorganisms will be expanded through the study of archaea and a model eukaryotic organism, yeast.
The lab sessions will focus on performing and interpreting an antibiogram, and on titrating bacteriophages.
Introduction to Evolution
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The objective of this course unit is to understand evolutionary processes at both the micro- and macro-evolutionary scales.
Using examples, hands-on activities, and accessible modeling, the course will aim to present, in a concrete and quantitative way, the effects of the four evolutionary forces operating at the individual and population levels (mutation, migration, selection, and genetic drift). The integration of these microevolutionary processes into larger timescales (e.g., lineage differentiation, speciation) will then be addressed. Finally, the course unit will include an introduction to phylogenetic tools (interpreting and constructing phylogenetic trees) that enable the study of macroevolutionary events (diversification, extinction) and the tracing of changes in character states, particularly by incorporating fossil data.
Biological Investigations
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This unit is dedicated to biomarkers. It serves as an introduction to detection and diagnostic techniques. It covers various aspects of biomarker analysis:
Molecular markers / techniques for identification through genomic analysis in medicine and agronomy.
1) The Concept of Polymorphism and Detection Techniques: RFLP / ER-Nucleic Acid Probes
2) RFLP markers and other genetic markers: SNPs, STRs.
3) Search for new molecular markers: differential screening of cDNA libraries / subtractive libraries / transcriptomics
4) Other genomic analyses of polymorphism: AFLP / DNA fingerprinting.
Identification Techniques in the Agri-Food Industry Using Immunological Methods
1) Basic Concepts in Immunological Techniques
2) Agglutination Reactions
3) Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods
Case studies of applications in the agri-food industry:
- study of the diagnostic kit for beet rhizominosis (sandwich ELISA)
- determination of ochratoxin A in cereals (competitive ELISA)
- assessment of fish freshness by histamine determination (competitive ELISA)
Biochemical identification of protein markers and other substances (metabolites)
1) Fundamentals of chromatography and the physical characterization of a spectrum (the interactions involved in each case and the solvents used to carry them out).
2) Affinity chromatography
2.1) Principle of this type of analysis
2.2) Finding the best tag for preparing a specific gel.
2.3) Their usefulness for various areas of research.
3) Study of protein-protein, protein-DNA, and other interactions…
4) HPLC, FPLC, and gas chromatography.
Physiology of Major Body Functions
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The “Major Physiological Functions” course (Semester 4) aims to describe the role and interactions of the body’s various systems that work together to maintain a constant internal environment. Students will acquire anatomical and functional knowledge of the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, and renal systems, as well as their neural and hormonal controls. Students will understand the combined action of these major systems through examples of integrative physiology and pathologies: respiratory and cardiac failure; hemorrhage; and exposure to extreme environments.
Personal and Professional Project
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Spring
Metabolic Biochemistry
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course will enable students to build on the skills they acquired in “Biochemistry S3.” It will help them understand cellular metabolism by:
-an understanding of bioenergetics in order to study the processes by which living cells transport, transmit, utilize, store, and release energy;
-the study of the catabolism and anabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, nucleotides, and amino acids, as well as the metabolic interactions between these pathways.
- a description of metabolic disorders.
Genetics 1
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
In this introductory course on genetic analysis, the objectives are to become familiar with the terminology, principles, concepts, and methods used in formal genetics, as well as their applications, particularly in human and medical genetics. This course covers the genetics of inheritance (Mendelian and non-Mendelian), quantitative genetics, and basic concepts of population genetics. Throughout the course, close connections are drawn between classical genetics and molecular genetics.
Cellular and Molecular Biology 2
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course in the third semester (S3) allows students to consolidate and expand upon the fundamentals of molecular biology and cell biology they acquired in their first year (L1).
Molecular Biology Section: The molecular and structural foundations of nucleic acids will be explored and examined in depth to understand the physicochemical properties of nucleic acids—which open up various avenues for technological applications—and the molecular mechanisms underlying the key processes in molecular biology, such as DNA replication, gene transcription into mRNA, and the translation of mRNA into proteins. These processes, illustrated by experimental evidence derived from various historical studies, will be studied in depth in prokaryotes. Comparisons with eukaryotes will also be discussed subsequently. The molecular mechanisms of DNA repair will also be described and explored.
Cell Biology Section: This section will cover the major concepts of membrane-bound and cytosolic protein complex formation, particularly in the context of cellular signaling pathways. The concepts of ligands, receptors, scaffolding proteins, signaling enzymes, intracellular second messengers, and response kinetics will be presented. Techniques in biochemistry and cell biology used to detect the presence and localization of proteins in cells and tissues will be discussed.
Fundamentals of Plant Physiology
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course is a cross-disciplinary course in the second year of the SV program designed to provide biology students with a fundamental understanding of how plants function, enabling them to grasp the current challenges in plant agricultural sciences.
The following basic concepts of plant physiology and functional biology will be studied:
Key experimental approaches: plant transgenesis, forward and reverse genetics
Fundamentals of Autotrophy
mechanisms underlying the major stages of angiosperm development: meristem function, floral transition, and fertilization.
auxin, a key hormone involved in plant development and their response to the abiotic environment
The laboratory sessions will allow students to experiment with regulating plant water uptake and to analyze plant mineral nutrition using various biochemical assays (flame photometry, spectrophotometry).
Description of Variability 1
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Course Description (max 10 lines):
The objective of this learning unit is to help students understand how to measure variation in biology and how it can be represented. It draws on concrete examples from various fields of biology (ecology, developmental biology, evolution, genetics, physiology) and provides the statistical tools for measuring this variation and the graphical methods for representing it. Statistical concepts such as 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 through tutorials based on biological problems.
Competencies targeted by the EU (see competency framework):
- Descriptive analytical tools in biology; an introduction to biostatistics through the analysis of biological patterns
Microbiology 1
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course covers the fundamentals of microbiology. It will explore the structures of microorganisms—both prokaryotes and eukaryotes—as well as viruses. It will provide an overview of the diversity of these microorganisms and describe their modes of reproduction.
For bacteria, the trophic types and factors influencing growth will be discussed, along with the study of growth in non-renewable media. Genetics and horizontal gene transfer among bacteria will be addressed.
Several eukaryotic microorganisms will be studied: their habitats, lifestyles, ecological roles or parasitism, as well as their modes of development.
In virology, the main viral replication cycles will be detailed, and modes of transmission and the concept of viral pathogenesis will be discussed. The principles of antiviral vaccination and antiviral treatments will be presented and illustrated using concrete examples.
The principles of antiviral vaccination and antiviral treatments will be presented and illustrated using concrete examples.
Laboratory sessions will provide an introduction to sterile handling techniques for microorganisms, bacterial counting, and conjugation.
Fundamentals of Animal Physiology and Immunology
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This module is designed to enable students to acquire:
Basic Concepts in Physiology: The concept of homeostasis; levels of organization in the human body; compartments of the internal environment; study of the endocrine system; acid-base and water-mineral balances; anatomical and functional studies of the central and peripheral nervous systems.
Basic Concepts in Immunology:
General overview of the immune system; study of T and B lymphocytes and antigen-presenting cells; study of antimicrobial immunity and the complement system.
Biochemistry, 3rd Semester
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course enables students to consolidate the fundamentals of biochemistry acquired in the first year of undergraduate studies by approaching the discipline through a cross-disciplinary study of enzymes involved in cellular metabolism, particularly glycolysis. Several areas of biochemistry will be covered: the fundamentals of Michaelis-Menten enzyme kinetics and a description of the metabolic reactions involved in glycolysis. Finally, the technical aspects will be addressed through the presentation and analysis of techniques used to measure enzyme activity and to purify, quantify, and detect proteins.
Chemistry for Biologists 2
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This second course unit in general chemistry aims to consolidate and deepen students’ understanding of reactions in aqueous solution, particularly those involving the formation of metal complexes. The principles of thermodynamics will be introduced and applied to the study of chemical equilibria of biological interest. Rather than presenting the material using a mathematical framework that would require a much greater number of class hours, students will be asked to understand the physical meaning of these principles and the main thermodynamic functions, as well as their applications to chemical systems—often of biological interest. In particular, resting membrane potentials and the use of pH-potential diagrams in biology will be covered.
Students will work through course materials (written and audio) in advance of certain lectures and tutorials so that the in-person instruction during lectures and tutorials will enable them to actively participate in the program, understand the concepts presented, and acquire the necessary skills.
English S3
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Fluid Biophysics
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The first part (about one-third) of the module will cover (biological) processes whose temporal evolution is described by an exponential law (growth or decline).
Radioactivity will be discussed as an example of such a process and for its applications in the fields of biology, health, and the environment (dating, tracing, etc.).
The second part (about two-thirds) of the module will introduce the concepts of fluids and pressure, and will present the laws of hydrostatics (the fundamental law of fluid statics, Archimedes’ theorem).
Fluid dynamics will be introduced, including concepts such as flow, viscosity, sedimentation, and centrifugation, as they relate to the biology and health sector.
List of Chapters in the Module:
- Exponential variations
- Radioactivity (radioactive decay, activity)
- Fluids: definition, properties, the concept of pressure
- Hydrostatics: fundamental law of fluid statics, Archimedes' theorem.
- Elements of Hydrodynamics: Flow, Bernoulli's Theorem
- Viscosity; Sedimentation and centrifugation
Food-Nutrition-Health
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Given that nutrition has become a focus of interest for an increasingly broad audience, the objective of this course unit is to establish dietary guidelines based on a scientific approach.
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of food and nutrition, covering nutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals), nutritional needs, and the various food groups. It will also cover certain food processing methods and technologies.
Biotechnology and the Challenge of Sustainable Agriculture
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course is offered to second-year Life Sciences students who wish to explore or gain a deeper understanding of how biotechnology can help address current and future challenges related to the sustainable production of agricultural and agri-food resources.
Humans use the properties of photosynthetic organisms and microorganisms to obtain and transform a wide range of resources and services: food for humans and livestock, therapeutic molecules, construction materials, and more. This use depends on natural conditions, and its overall impact is likely to affect the environment in turn—for example, through the extraction or degradation of limited and/or non-renewable resources (water, soil, etc.). Therefore, to ensure that this production of resources is sustainable, its organization (the concept of agronomy) must incorporate an understanding of these impacts and be based on knowledge of the properties of plants and microorganisms to address these challenges. The development and use of new biotechnologies in the fields of applied genetics and plant physiology, the use of microorganisms, and the beneficial or harmful interactions between these microorganisms and plants play a major role in these sustainable agronomy strategies.
Biochemistry
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Fall
Animal Behavior - Ethology
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The goal of this course is to understand animal behavior in an integrative manner, in light of Tinbergen’s four “whys”: from its ontogenesis and neurobiological causes to its evolution and biological functions. In addition to historical, conceptual, and methodological insights, students will be guided to understand the diversity of traits involved as well as the variety of scientific approaches and questions associated with them. Through various examples, this course will highlight the diversity of disciplines that study animal behavior—including neuroscience, ethology, and behavioral ecology—and will help students make informed decisions about continuing their studies in appropriate fields such as animal physiology and neuroscience, evolutionary biology and ecology, or other related areas.
ASTRE's Scientific Approach to the Ecological Transition
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Fall
English S4
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
BioInfo
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
1- Linux Basics (1.5 hours lecture + 3 hours lab): Basic commands for navigating Linux and understanding the logic of this language. Short exercises in extracting information using Bash/shell. Material covered for the analysis of alignment files.
2- Databases (3 hours of lectures + 4.5 hours of lab sessions): become familiar with the main bibliographic and biological databases (NCBI, Ensembl, Galaxie, etc.). Learn how to perform relevant and effective searches, analyze and sort data, and describe the various formats
3- Sequence Analysis (1.5 hours of lecture + 4.5 hours of lab): Sequence alignment and comparison, with a brief introduction to phylogenetics (dot plot, BLAST, etc.)
Cellular and Molecular Biology 3
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course in the fourth semester (S4) allows students to consolidate and expand upon the fundamentals of molecular biology and cell biology they acquired in their first year (L1).
- Cell Biology: The course will cover four major topics: 1) The function of the cellular cytoskeleton, 2) Cell adhesion, 3) Protein trafficking, 4) An introduction to cell cycle regulation. Cell biology methodologies will also be presented: immunoprecipitation to detect protein interactions, fluorescence video microscopy to track the dynamics of cellular distribution, and assessment of the importance of proteins of interest in a cellular process using strategies to modulate their expression (RNA interference, overexpression).
- Molecular Biology: After gaining an understanding of the mechanisms of transcription and translation in Semester 3, we will explore the regulation of gene expression: transcriptional regulation (repressors, activators) and attenuation in prokaryotes, as well as the fundamentals of gene expression regulation mechanisms in eukaryotes.
Introduction to Evolution
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The objective of this course unit is to understand evolutionary processes at both the micro- and macro-evolutionary scales.
Using examples, hands-on activities, and accessible modeling, the course will aim to present, in a concrete and quantitative way, the effects of the four evolutionary forces operating at the individual and population levels (mutation, migration, selection, and genetic drift). The integration of these microevolutionary processes into larger timescales (e.g., lineage differentiation, speciation) will then be addressed. Finally, the course unit will include an introduction to phylogenetic tools (interpreting and constructing phylogenetic trees) that enable the study of macroevolutionary events (diversification, extinction) and the tracing of changes in character states, particularly by incorporating fossil data.
Physiology of Major Body Functions
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The “Major Physiological Functions” course (Semester 4) aims to describe the role and interactions of the body’s various systems that work together to maintain a constant internal environment. Students will acquire anatomical and functional knowledge of the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, and renal systems, as well as their neural and hormonal controls. Students will understand the combined action of these major systems through examples of integrative physiology and pathologies: respiratory and cardiac failure; hemorrhage; and exposure to extreme environments.
Personal and Professional Project
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Spring
Metabolic Biochemistry
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course will enable students to build on the skills they acquired in “Biochemistry S3.” It will help them understand cellular metabolism by:
-an understanding of bioenergetics in order to study the processes by which living cells transport, transmit, utilize, store, and release energy;
-the study of the catabolism and anabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, nucleotides, and amino acids, as well as the metabolic interactions between these pathways.
- a description of metabolic disorders.
Genetics 1
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
In this introductory course on genetic analysis, the objectives are to become familiar with the terminology, principles, concepts, and methods used in formal genetics, as well as their applications, particularly in human and medical genetics. This course covers the genetics of inheritance (Mendelian and non-Mendelian), quantitative genetics, and basic concepts of population genetics. Throughout the course, close connections are drawn between classical genetics and molecular genetics.
Membrane transfer
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The EU course on Membrane Transports (4th semester) aims to describe the role and different types of membrane transport. Topics covered will include membrane permeability (i) to water (osmosis; mechanisms of water transport; aquaporins); (ii) to ions and solutes (factors affecting ion exchange: electroneutrality and osmotic equilibrium). Transporters; ionic and non-ionic channels. Genetic diseases related to transport: channelopathies and co-transportopathies.
Neurobiology
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The “Neurobiology” course covers the basic principles of how the nervous system functions and is organized. In the lectures, this course presents the anatomy of the central nervous system and explains the main functions of its various structures. The lectures also cover cellular neurobiology, addressing the fundamentals of neuronal physiology. The tutorials delve deeper into certain key points and include exercises based on the lecture material.
Cellular and Molecular Biology 2
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course in the third semester (S3) allows students to consolidate and expand upon the fundamentals of molecular biology and cell biology they acquired in their first year (L1).
Molecular Biology Section: The molecular and structural foundations of nucleic acids will be explored and examined in depth to understand the physicochemical properties of nucleic acids—which open up various avenues for technological applications—and the molecular mechanisms underlying the key processes in molecular biology, such as DNA replication, gene transcription into mRNA, and the translation of mRNA into proteins. These processes, illustrated by experimental evidence derived from various historical studies, will be studied in depth in prokaryotes. Comparisons with eukaryotes will also be discussed subsequently. The molecular mechanisms of DNA repair will also be described and explored.
Cell Biology Section: This section will cover the major concepts of membrane-bound and cytosolic protein complex formation, particularly in the context of cellular signaling pathways. The concepts of ligands, receptors, scaffolding proteins, signaling enzymes, intracellular second messengers, and response kinetics will be presented. Techniques in biochemistry and cell biology used to detect the presence and localization of proteins in cells and tissues will be discussed.
Fundamentals of Plant Physiology
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course is a cross-disciplinary course in the second year of the SV program designed to provide biology students with a fundamental understanding of how plants function, enabling them to grasp the current challenges in plant agricultural sciences.
The following basic concepts of plant physiology and functional biology will be studied:
Key experimental approaches: plant transgenesis, forward and reverse genetics
Fundamentals of Autotrophy
mechanisms underlying the major stages of angiosperm development: meristem function, floral transition, and fertilization.
auxin, a key hormone involved in plant development and their response to the abiotic environment
The laboratory sessions will allow students to experiment with regulating plant water uptake and to analyze plant mineral nutrition using various biochemical assays (flame photometry, spectrophotometry).
Description of Variability 1
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Course Description (max 10 lines):
The objective of this learning unit is to help students understand how to measure variation in biology and how it can be represented. It draws on concrete examples from various fields of biology (ecology, developmental biology, evolution, genetics, physiology) and provides the statistical tools for measuring this variation and the graphical methods for representing it. Statistical concepts such as 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 through tutorials based on biological problems.
Competencies targeted by the EU (see competency framework):
- Descriptive analytical tools in biology; an introduction to biostatistics through the analysis of biological patterns
Microbiology 1
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course covers the fundamentals of microbiology. It will explore the structures of microorganisms—both prokaryotes and eukaryotes—as well as viruses. It will provide an overview of the diversity of these microorganisms and describe their modes of reproduction.
For bacteria, the trophic types and factors influencing growth will be discussed, along with the study of growth in non-renewable media. Genetics and horizontal gene transfer among bacteria will be addressed.
Several eukaryotic microorganisms will be studied: their habitats, lifestyles, ecological roles or parasitism, as well as their modes of development.
In virology, the main viral replication cycles will be detailed, and modes of transmission and the concept of viral pathogenesis will be discussed. The principles of antiviral vaccination and antiviral treatments will be presented and illustrated using concrete examples.
The principles of antiviral vaccination and antiviral treatments will be presented and illustrated using concrete examples.
Laboratory sessions will provide an introduction to sterile handling techniques for microorganisms, bacterial counting, and conjugation.
Fundamentals of Animal Physiology and Immunology
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This module is designed to enable students to acquire:
Basic Concepts in Physiology: The concept of homeostasis; levels of organization in the human body; compartments of the internal environment; study of the endocrine system; acid-base and water-mineral balances; anatomical and functional studies of the central and peripheral nervous systems.
Basic Concepts in Immunology:
General overview of the immune system; study of T and B lymphocytes and antigen-presenting cells; study of antimicrobial immunity and the complement system.
Biochemistry, 3rd Semester
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course enables students to consolidate the fundamentals of biochemistry acquired in the first year of undergraduate studies by approaching the discipline through a cross-disciplinary study of enzymes involved in cellular metabolism, particularly glycolysis. Several areas of biochemistry will be covered: the fundamentals of Michaelis-Menten enzyme kinetics and a description of the metabolic reactions involved in glycolysis. Finally, the technical aspects will be addressed through the presentation and analysis of techniques used to measure enzyme activity and to purify, quantify, and detect proteins.
English S3
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Fluid Biophysics
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The first part (about one-third) of the module will cover (biological) processes whose temporal evolution is described by an exponential law (growth or decline).
Radioactivity will be discussed as an example of such a process and for its applications in the fields of biology, health, and the environment (dating, tracing, etc.).
The second part (about two-thirds) of the module will introduce the concepts of fluids and pressure, and will present the laws of hydrostatics (the fundamental law of fluid statics, Archimedes’ theorem).
Fluid dynamics will be introduced, including concepts such as flow, viscosity, sedimentation, and centrifugation, as they relate to the biology and health sector.
List of Chapters in the Module:
- Exponential variations
- Radioactivity (radioactive decay, activity)
- Fluids: definition, properties, the concept of pressure
- Hydrostatics: fundamental law of fluid statics, Archimedes' theorem.
- Elements of Hydrodynamics: Flow, Bernoulli's Theorem
- Viscosity; Sedimentation and centrifugation
Agricultural and Veterinary Chemistry
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course is a specialized course in the preparation program for the B-level agricultural and veterinary exams. It complements and concludes the chemistry coursework from the first year of undergraduate studies (L1) and the third semester (S3).
The course will focus on reviewing past exam questions and providing practice through regular mock exams.
The following topics will therefore be taught in both lectures and tutorials:
In Organic Chemistry
Functional Organic Chemistry: Progress in the HAV310C Course
Carbonyl Derivatives, Aldehydes, and Ketones—Part 2
Acids and Acid Derivatives
Some biomolecules (sugars, amino acids) and multistep syntheses
Regular practice sessions on exam topics
In Physical and General Chemistry
Chemical Thermodynamics and Physical Chemistry: An Overview Based on the HAV310C Curriculum
Practice on exam-style questions
- Chemical kinetics
- Reaction mechanisms
Solution Chemistry
- Electron transfer in an aqueous phase
- Complexes in aqueous solution
CHOICE 1
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Food-Nutrition-Health
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Given that nutrition has become a focus of interest for an increasingly broad audience, the objective of this course unit is to establish dietary guidelines based on a scientific approach.
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of food and nutrition, covering nutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals), nutritional needs, and the various food groups. It will also cover certain food processing methods and technologies.
Biotechnology and the Challenge of Sustainable Agriculture
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course is offered to second-year Life Sciences students who wish to explore or gain a deeper understanding of how biotechnology can help address current and future challenges related to the sustainable production of agricultural and agri-food resources.
Humans use the properties of photosynthetic organisms and microorganisms to obtain and transform a wide range of resources and services: food for humans and livestock, therapeutic molecules, construction materials, and more. This use depends on natural conditions, and its overall impact is likely to affect the environment in turn—for example, through the extraction or degradation of limited and/or non-renewable resources (water, soil, etc.). Therefore, to ensure that this production of resources is sustainable, its organization (the concept of agronomy) must incorporate an understanding of these impacts and be based on knowledge of the properties of plants and microorganisms to address these challenges. The development and use of new biotechnologies in the fields of applied genetics and plant physiology, the use of microorganisms, and the beneficial or harmful interactions between these microorganisms and plants play a major role in these sustainable agronomy strategies.
Biochemistry
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Fall
Animal Behavior - Ethology
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The goal of this course is to understand animal behavior in an integrative manner, in light of Tinbergen’s four “whys”: from its ontogenesis and neurobiological causes to its evolution and biological functions. In addition to historical, conceptual, and methodological insights, students will be guided to understand the diversity of traits involved as well as the variety of scientific approaches and questions associated with them. Through various examples, this course will highlight the diversity of disciplines that study animal behavior—including neuroscience, ethology, and behavioral ecology—and will help students make informed decisions about continuing their studies in appropriate fields such as animal physiology and neuroscience, evolutionary biology and ecology, or other related areas.
ASTRE's Scientific Approach to the Ecological Transition
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Fall
BioInfo
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
1- Linux Basics (1.5 hours lecture + 3 hours lab): Basic commands for navigating Linux and understanding the logic of this language. Short exercises in extracting information using Bash/shell. Material covered for the analysis of alignment files.
2- Databases (3 hours of lectures + 4.5 hours of lab sessions): become familiar with the main bibliographic and biological databases (NCBI, Ensembl, Galaxie, etc.). Learn how to perform relevant and effective searches, analyze and sort data, and describe the various formats
3- Sequence Analysis (1.5 hours of lecture + 4.5 hours of lab): Sequence alignment and comparison, with a brief introduction to phylogenetics (dot plot, BLAST, etc.)
Cellular and Molecular Biology 3
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course in the fourth semester (S4) allows students to consolidate and expand upon the fundamentals of molecular biology and cell biology they acquired in their first year (L1).
- Cell Biology: The course will cover four major topics: 1) The function of the cellular cytoskeleton, 2) Cell adhesion, 3) Protein trafficking, 4) An introduction to cell cycle regulation. Cell biology methodologies will also be presented: immunoprecipitation to detect protein interactions, fluorescence video microscopy to track the dynamics of cellular distribution, and assessment of the importance of proteins of interest in a cellular process using strategies to modulate their expression (RNA interference, overexpression).
- Molecular Biology: After gaining an understanding of the mechanisms of transcription and translation in Semester 3, we will explore the regulation of gene expression: transcriptional regulation (repressors, activators) and attenuation in prokaryotes, as well as the fundamentals of gene expression regulation mechanisms in eukaryotes.
Preparation for Competitive Exam Interviews
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course is intended for second-year Life Sciences students preparing for the “B” entrance exam for national schools of agronomy and veterinary medicine (Agro-Veto Prep Track). This exam includes a 30-minute oral interview with the panel, which accounts for half of the admission score. This portion of the exam is similar to a job interview, during which the student must convince the panel of the maturity of their career plan and the coherence of their academic path in achieving that goal.
The objective of this course unit is to prepare students for this type of job interview (in terms of both content and format) by guiding their thinking and work on
- their career plans, on the one hand, and their education, skills, and aspirations, on the other, as well as the consistency between these two aspects
- conveying this message in writing through a well-crafted resume
- a clear, concise, and well-organized oral presentation of this argument (first part of the interview)
- answering the jury's questions
Oral Exam Prep: Science and Society
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Science and technology are, more than ever, at the heart of our societies. Many of them raise ethical, societal, and economic issues. Some pose major societal challenges—both in terms of health (GMOs, pesticides, stem cells, etc.) and the environment (loss of biodiversity, climate change).
We will draw on articles published in daily and weekly newspapers that address scientific issues with societal implications. The initial goal is to present the article, the topic at hand, and the author’s position. Subsequently, by initiating a discussion, the aim is to develop students’ ability to argue a case, listen to others, and respect diverse points of view. This course unit also helps students prepare for the “Science & Society” section of the B PCAV entrance exam.
Introduction to Evolution
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The objective of this course unit is to understand evolutionary processes at both the micro- and macro-evolutionary scales.
Using examples, hands-on activities, and accessible modeling, the course will aim to present, in a concrete and quantitative way, the effects of the four evolutionary forces operating at the individual and population levels (mutation, migration, selection, and genetic drift). The integration of these microevolutionary processes into larger timescales (e.g., lineage differentiation, speciation) will then be addressed. Finally, the course unit will include an introduction to phylogenetic tools (interpreting and constructing phylogenetic trees) that enable the study of macroevolutionary events (diversification, extinction) and the tracing of changes in character states, particularly by incorporating fossil data.
Physiology of Major Body Functions
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The “Major Physiological Functions” course (Semester 4) aims to describe the role and interactions of the body’s various systems that work together to maintain a constant internal environment. Students will acquire anatomical and functional knowledge of the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, and renal systems, as well as their neural and hormonal controls. Students will understand the combined action of these major systems through examples of integrative physiology and pathologies: respiratory and cardiac failure; hemorrhage; and exposure to extreme environments.
Personal and Professional Project
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Spring
English S4
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Metabolic Biochemistry
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course will enable students to build on the skills they acquired in “Biochemistry S3.” It will help them understand cellular metabolism by:
-an understanding of bioenergetics in order to study the processes by which living cells transport, transmit, utilize, store, and release energy;
-the study of the catabolism and anabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, nucleotides, and amino acids, as well as the metabolic interactions between these pathways.
- a description of metabolic disorders.
Practice for the Chemistry Written Exam
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course is a specialized course in the preparation program for the B-level agricultural and veterinary exams. It complements and concludes the chemistry coursework from the first year of undergraduate studies (L1) and the third semester (S3).
The course will focus on reviewing past exam questions and providing practice through regular mock exams.
The following topics will therefore be taught in both lectures and tutorials:
In Organic Chemistry
Functional Organic Chemistry: Progress in the HAV310C Course
Carbonyl Derivatives, Aldehydes, and Ketones—Part 2
Acids and Acid Derivatives
Some biomolecules (sugars, amino acids) and multistep syntheses
Regular practice sessions on exam topics
In Physical and General Chemistry
Chemical Thermodynamics and Physical Chemistry: An Overview Based on the HAV310C Curriculum
Practice on exam-style questions
- Chemical kinetics
- Reaction mechanisms
Solution Chemistry
- Electron transfer in an aqueous phase
- Complexes in aqueous solution
Genetics 1
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
In this introductory course on genetic analysis, the objectives are to become familiar with the terminology, principles, concepts, and methods used in formal genetics, as well as their applications, particularly in human and medical genetics. This course covers the genetics of inheritance (Mendelian and non-Mendelian), quantitative genetics, and basic concepts of population genetics. Throughout the course, close connections are drawn between classical genetics and molecular genetics.
Classification and Diversity in APP
ECTS
6 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
General Ecology in APP
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Functional Biology of Animals in APP
ECTS
5 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Metabolic Biochemistry in APP
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
English S3 in APP
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Functional Plant Biology in the APP Program
ECTS
5 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Statistics and Variability in APP
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
ASTRE's Scientific Approach to the Ecological Transition
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Fall
Progress in APP
ECTS
6 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
English S4 in APP
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Interactions in Biology in the APP
ECTS
14 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Pre-Professional Program 2 in Biology
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Statistics and Modeling in APP
ECTS
6 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Coherent Grouping 1 EU Scientists Semester 3
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Cellular and Molecular Biology 2
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course in the third semester (S3) allows students to consolidate and expand upon the fundamentals of molecular biology and cell biology they acquired in their first year (L1).
Molecular Biology Section: The molecular and structural foundations of nucleic acids will be explored and examined in depth to understand the physicochemical properties of nucleic acids—which open up various avenues for technological applications—and the molecular mechanisms underlying the key processes in molecular biology, such as DNA replication, gene transcription into mRNA, and the translation of mRNA into proteins. These processes, illustrated by experimental evidence derived from various historical studies, will be studied in depth in prokaryotes. Comparisons with eukaryotes will also be discussed subsequently. The molecular mechanisms of DNA repair will also be described and explored.
Cell Biology Section: This section will cover the major concepts of membrane-bound and cytosolic protein complex formation, particularly in the context of cellular signaling pathways. The concepts of ligands, receptors, scaffolding proteins, signaling enzymes, intracellular second messengers, and response kinetics will be presented. Techniques in biochemistry and cell biology used to detect the presence and localization of proteins in cells and tissues will be discussed.
Modeling of Physicochemical Systems
ECTS
2.5 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Modeling of EC/CC Physicochemical Systems
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Modeling of Physicochemical Systems Written
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
VBA Programming
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Microbiology 1
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course covers the fundamentals of microbiology. It will explore the structures of microorganisms—both prokaryotes and eukaryotes—as well as viruses. It will provide an overview of the diversity of these microorganisms and describe their modes of reproduction.
For bacteria, the trophic types and factors influencing growth will be discussed, along with the study of growth in non-renewable media. Genetics and horizontal gene transfer among bacteria will be addressed.
Several eukaryotic microorganisms will be studied: their habitats, lifestyles, ecological roles or parasitism, as well as their modes of development.
In virology, the main viral replication cycles will be detailed, and modes of transmission and the concept of viral pathogenesis will be discussed. The principles of antiviral vaccination and antiviral treatments will be presented and illustrated using concrete examples.
The principles of antiviral vaccination and antiviral treatments will be presented and illustrated using concrete examples.
Laboratory sessions will provide an introduction to sterile handling techniques for microorganisms, bacterial counting, and conjugation.
Biochemistry, 3rd Semester
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course enables students to consolidate the fundamentals of biochemistry acquired in the first year of undergraduate studies by approaching the discipline through a cross-disciplinary study of enzymes involved in cellular metabolism, particularly glycolysis. Several areas of biochemistry will be covered: the fundamentals of Michaelis-Menten enzyme kinetics and a description of the metabolic reactions involved in glycolysis. Finally, the technical aspects will be addressed through the presentation and analysis of techniques used to measure enzyme activity and to purify, quantify, and detect proteins.
Chemistry for Biologists 2
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This second course unit in general chemistry aims to consolidate and deepen students’ understanding of reactions in aqueous solution, particularly those involving the formation of metal complexes. The principles of thermodynamics will be introduced and applied to the study of chemical equilibria of biological interest. Rather than presenting the material using a mathematical framework that would require a much greater number of class hours, students will be asked to understand the physical meaning of these principles and the main thermodynamic functions, as well as their applications to chemical systems—often of biological interest. In particular, resting membrane potentials and the use of pH-potential diagrams in biology will be covered.
Students will work through course materials (written and audio) in advance of certain lectures and tutorials so that the in-person instruction during lectures and tutorials will enable them to actively participate in the program, understand the concepts presented, and acquire the necessary skills.
Immunology-Hematology
ECTS
3.5 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Hematology Lab Report on Moodle
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Immunology Written Exam
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Immunology: Lecture, Lab, and Written Exam
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Fundamentals of Pharmacology
ECTS
1.5 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Fundamentals of Pharmacology: Oral/Written
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Fundamentals of Pharmacology: Written Exam
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Fundamentals of Human Physiology
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Fundamentals of Human Physiology (Written Exam)
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Fundamentals of Human Physiology Lab
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Coherent Grouping of 3 Cross-Curricular and Language EUs. Semester 3
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
English S3
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Coherent grouping of 3 cross-curricular and language course units. Semester 4
ECTS
6 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Communication and General Education in English
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Overview of the Pharmaceutical Industry and Quality
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Overview of the Pharmaceutical Industry
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Second Language
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Second Language - German
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Second Language - Other Language
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Second Language - Spanish
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Coherent Grouping: 2 Science Courses, Semester 4
ECTS
24 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Clinical Biology Practices
ECTS
3.5 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Pharmaceutical Biophysics
ECTS
5 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Pharmaceutical Biophysics EC
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Pharmaceutical Biophysics Lab Reports
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Biocellular, Biomolecular, and Health Engineering
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Biocellular/Biomolecular Written Exam
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Biocellular/Biomol Project/CC
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Physicochemical Approaches to Pharmaceutical Substances
ECTS
5 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Physicochemical Approaches to Pharmaceutical Substances. Written
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Physicochemical Approaches to Pharmaceutical Substances: Lab Exercise
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Metabolic Biochemistry
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course will enable students to build on the skills they acquired in “Biochemistry S3.” It will help them understand cellular metabolism by:
-an understanding of bioenergetics in order to study the processes by which living cells transport, transmit, utilize, store, and release energy;
-the study of the catabolism and anabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, nucleotides, and amino acids, as well as the metabolic interactions between these pathways.
- a description of metabolic disorders.
Statistics and Health Engineering
ECTS
2.5 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Statistics and Health Engineering - Written
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Statistics and Health Engineering (Practical or Written)
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Structural Biochemistry
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course provides an in-depth study of the structural biochemistry of biomolecules, particularly proteins and nucleic acids.
The basic concepts and terminology used in the analysis of 3D protein structures are briefly reviewed here (Ramachandran plot, structural motifs and domains, folding, family, superfamily, etc.). These concepts are supplemented by a study of the stability and dynamics of biomolecules.
The structural classification of proteins is described in detail based on the four main types of folding. Structure-function relationships are illustrated using examples of proteins. The specific characteristics of membrane protein structures (integral proteins, membrane-bound proteins) are discussed.
The main tools for modeling and predicting secondary and tertiary structures are presented.
The various structures and functions of nucleic acids are studied. Protein-nucleic acid complexes are described from a structural perspective (main recognition motifs, etc.), and the concepts of recognition specificity are explained in detail.
This course is supplemented by tutorials. These tutorials are designed to familiarize students with the main databases used in structural biology, as well as with the PyMol software for analyzing 3D structures.
Regulations / Legislation
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The EU aims to help students understand the three-pronged relationship between safety, legislation, and detection tools. Human activity, which addresses the needs of populations for growth, well-being, and health, requires the monitoring of industrial practices. Regulations setting limit levels for pollutants and other substances establish acceptable limits that must be quantifiable.
The EU addresses European food safety laws, which involve pragmatic approaches to ensuring industry compliance: the regulatory framework. Biology students who will go on to work in various fields—from agronomy to healthcare—must be familiar with the fundamentals of quality management.
Immunology (from the immune response to infections to autoimmune diseases)
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course unit serves as a logical continuation of the S4 course unit (Fundamentals of Physiology and Immunology) and aims to deepen students’ knowledge of basic, applied, and clinical immunology. We will also explore “non-conventional” concepts in immunology and discuss innovative immunotherapy strategies. This course will cover all topics related to modern immunology and will have a strong focus on the clinical aspects of this discipline.
Keywords
Basic Immunology, Anti-infectious Immunity, Immunotherapy, Vaccination, Autoimmunity, Immunodeficiencies, Anti-cancer Immunity, Non-conventional Immunity
English S5
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Innovative Approaches in Metabolic Engineering
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
In this course unit, students work in groups to conduct a literature review on a selection of medicinal plants during tutored seminars in order to identify the plant’s biomolecules that may have biological or even pharmacological properties. Using documents provided to them, each group identifies, proposes, and implements—during laboratory sessions—an extraction protocol and a simple biological activity test protocol to assess the biostatic, antibiotic, or antioxidant activity of the targeted molecules. The literature review process, the results obtained during the practical sessions, and their analysis and interpretation will be discussed during a poster presentation session, which will be evaluated.
Molecular Biology
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
5 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Molecular biology is not only a fascinating field of study in its own right, but it also provides other branches of biology (cell biology, genetics, physiology, etc.) with fantastic tools for modifying and quantifying genes and their products.
The EU is deepening our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the organization, maintenance, replication, and expression (transcription, post-transcriptional modifications, translation) of eukaryotic genomes.
In particular, we will explore the properties of information-carrying macromolecules (DNA, RNA, proteins) and how the interactions between them account for the functioning of eukaryotic cells and their adaptation to the environment and to the development of organisms.
At the same time, the main techniques used to monitor or modify gene expression—or to study the mechanisms underlying gene expression—will be covered in lectures and explored in greater depth in tutorials through the analysis of results.
Thus, the tutorials address these topics through (1) exercises that allow students to assess their understanding of the concepts described above, and (2) experiments drawn from scientific articles for analysis. In this way, students will acquire and/or deepen their understanding of the fundamentals of scientific reasoning and the critical analysis of results.
Introduction to Nanobiotechnology
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
5 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course introduces the basic concepts of nanobiotechnology as applied to diagnostics and detection.
1- Introduction to Biosensors and Embedded Systems
The different types of electrochemical sensors (conductimetry, potentiometry, and amperometry): - Biosensors, ranging from the Clark electrode to the amperometric glucose meter. - The potentiostat: a simple standardized measurement system
- Transistors: semiconductors
- nanotubes or wires made of carbon, silicon, graphene, etc.
- Impedance measurement
2- Introduction to Biomimicry
- Self-assembly of spherical structures; viruses, ferritin, dendrimers
- The self-assembly of monolayers
3- Functional Organic Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry Review for First-Year Undergraduates
- Biomolecules (involved functions, carbonyl groups, amines, alcohols, thiols)
- Structures
- Basic Concepts of Functionalization
- Redox reaction
Biotechnology S5
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course covers the various categories of biotechnology according to their fields of application:
- Plant biotechnology relates to the agri-food sector and encompasses a range of technologies that use plant organisms and their cells to produce and process food products, biomaterials, and energy, as well as recombinant proteins for therapeutic purposes.
- Animal biotechnology encompasses the fields of health, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and tissue engineering, as well as the development of genetic or molecular processes for therapeutic purposes.
- Microbial biotechnology involves the use of microorganisms (viruses or bacteria) and their cultivation in the food and pharmaceutical industries, as well as their role in environmental protection.
The curriculum for students in the third year of the Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences is designed to enable them to discover or deepen their theoretical knowledge of various biotechnologies and to master the associated tools and applications.
History of Biology and Bioethics
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The main goal of this module will be to provide a better understanding of the major concepts of modern biology through the history of their development. In other words, to analyze the intellectual journey as well as the experimental and theoretical approaches that led to their formulation. For example, we will analyze how the search for a “natural” classification led Jean-Baptiste Monet de Lamarck and Charles Darwin to lay the foundations of evolutionary biology, or how Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire’s concept of the “unit of organizational plan” gave rise to evolutionary paleontology, developmental biology, and evolution and development (Evo/Devo).
In the context of bioethical issues, we will address problems such as the misuse of a concept (from craniology to eugenics) as well as the cases of “Georges Cuvier” and “Trophim Lysenko,” in which religious or political ideology interferes with science.
Finally, the philosophy of biology will lead us to discuss the value of models in biology and the “end of the ‘all-genetic’ paradigm” (from Lamarck to epigenetics, via epigenesis).
The entire module will consist of lectures, during which several seminal texts in modern biology will also be analyzed and discussed.
Molecular Biology Lab Sessions
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
6 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Spring
The molecular biology practical training course aims to enable students to work independently on a molecular biology protocol and to introduce them to hypothesis-driven research. Students will have six days to address a biological problem that will be presented to them. This will allow them to apply, under laboratory conditions, some of the techniques covered in their theoretical coursework, thereby gaining a better understanding of them.
Molecular Engineering
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Spring
As part of this course unit, students will learn the experimental principles involved in working with nucleic acids. The lectures will focus on two main areas:
- Development of molecular tools (cloning, nucleic acid analysis, vectorology) ii. Their applications (recombinant protein expression, genomic banking, transgenesis, the CRISPR/Cas9 system, etc.) and reflection on ethical issues in biology.
The tutorials will consist of:
- Analysis of articles presenting problems to be solved using the knowledge gained in the course. The chosen topics will, as much as possible, relate to parallel course units in the third year of the bachelor’s program. Students will present these articles in the form of oral presentations, in groups of 3 to 4 students, to the entire class.
- Sessions dedicated to using basic bioinformatics tools in the computer lab.
Molecular tools for detection and diagnosis
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Spring
The course aims to provide an overview of molecular identification techniques, with a focus on biomarkers, advances in the latest generations of biomarkers and selective membranes, as well as new instrumentation.
Molecular diagnostic techniques / high-throughput approaches.
Biosynthesis of Antigen Receptors in B and T Cells
Antigen-Antibody Reactions
Immunological Techniques
Principle of FACS
Proteomics, 2D, LC-MS, MS-MS, Degradome…
Biosensors and Instrumentation
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
6 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course provides an in-depth look at biosensor design. It begins by introducing the general concepts of graft chemistry for the functionalization of substrates. Finally, an introduction to microfluidics will guide students in designing instrumentation. This course will focus primarily on hands-on application, including a comprehensive literature review that will enable students to work on their own instrumentation development projects.
Project or Internship
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The structure of this course is specifically tailored to the various tracks within the L3 program. Nevertheless, the objectives are the same: to give students an overview of the professional world related to life sciences research.
Students will be offered a short internship in a laboratory or company, or a supervised project with a mentor working in a laboratory or company related to biology.
Virology
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Spring
The EU aims to advance knowledge in fundamental and applied virology, with an emphasis on an integrative approach to the discipline. It will present the specific characteristics of host-virus interactions and the pathophysiology of viral infections in different types of hosts (vertebrates, insects, and plants). It will address aspects of viral ecology, virus emergence, and associated risks to human and animal health. Finally, the course will cover research methods, virological detection and diagnostic tools, and the applications of viruses in biotechnology.
The course will consist of lectures, tutorials (analysis of current scientific articles and oral presentations), and practical exercises that illustrate the material covered in the lectures and tutorials (virus amplification and purification, and quantification using standard techniques).
Structural Biochemistry
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course provides an in-depth study of the structural biochemistry of biomolecules, particularly proteins and nucleic acids.
The basic concepts and terminology used in the analysis of 3D protein structures are briefly reviewed here (Ramachandran plot, structural motifs and domains, folding, family, superfamily, etc.). These concepts are supplemented by a study of the stability and dynamics of biomolecules.
The structural classification of proteins is described in detail based on the four main types of folding. Structure-function relationships are illustrated using examples of proteins. The specific characteristics of membrane protein structures (integral proteins, membrane-bound proteins) are discussed.
The main tools for modeling and predicting secondary and tertiary structures are presented.
The various structures and functions of nucleic acids are studied. Protein-nucleic acid complexes are described from a structural perspective (main recognition motifs, etc.), and the concepts of recognition specificity are explained in detail.
This course is supplemented by tutorials. These tutorials are designed to familiarize students with the main databases used in structural biology, as well as with the PyMol software for analyzing 3D structures.
Enzymology
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
5 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course provides fundamental knowledge of formal and structural enzymology.
- The first part of this course covers formal kinetics (the study of reaction rates, determining the order of a reaction, equilibrium and kinetics, reversible and equilibrated reactions). The experimental aspects are presented in parallel (determining kinetic constants using spectrophotometry, fluorescence, radioactivity, immunoassays, etc.).
- The second part of the course focuses on the study of single-substrate enzyme kinetics.
Definition of an enzyme, a catalyst. Enzyme classification (EC)
Michaelis kinetics. Michaelis-Menten equation. Definition of enzymatic parameters:KM, maximum velocity, catalytic constant, turnover. Various graphical representations (Lineweaver-Burk, Eadie-Hofstee).
The different types of inhibition are also studied (competitive, uncompetitive, noncompetitive, mixed), as well as their graphical representation.
Determination of the inhibition constant. Irreversible inhibitors.
Reaction rate. Arrhenius's law.
- The third section focuses on describing multi-substrate enzyme kinetics from a formal perspective. Including ternary complexes. Random or ordered mechanisms.
Without a ternary complex. Ping-Pong mechanism, Theorell-Chance mechanism. Cleland representation.
Graphical determination.
- Part 4 covers equilibrium binding and allosterism.
Receptor-Ligand / Enzyme-Substrate Binding. Determination of the dissociation (or association) constant. Specific and nonspecific binding.
Scatchard's demonstration and graphical representation. Allosteric receptors (or enzymes). Non-Michaelis enzyme. Concept of cooperativity. Positive and negative cooperativity. Hill number, Hill plot.
Allosteric regulation models are presented. Allostery. Models of cooperativity: concerted (Monod-Wyman-Changeux) and sequential (Koshland-Nemethy-Filmer). Role of effectors: activators or inhibitors. Example of hemoglobin and oxygen binding.
- The fifth part of the course explores the relationship between enzyme structures and their functions using several examples. It describes the 3D structures and catalytic mechanisms of acetylcholine esterase, proteases, and nucleoside diphosphate kinase. It also covers concepts such as the catalytic triad, the binding pocket, and more.
Communication Skills and Scientific English
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course describes the methodology used by life sciences researchers to communicate the results of their experiments, both in writing and orally. Since English is the common language of international researchers, a large portion of this course is taught in English.
Written communication is addressed through an examination of the (macro) structure of a research article, as well as through an examination of the publication process in scientific journals. Several elements of written (micro) structure are examined in order to understand the differences between scientific English and literary English: clarity, cohesion, and coherence.
These courses are supplemented by a supervised project during the semester, in which students are required to analyze a research article recently published in the scientific literature and present it as an oral presentation (lecture) in English.
English S5
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Molecular Biology
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
5 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Molecular biology is not only a fascinating field of study in its own right, but it also provides other branches of biology (cell biology, genetics, physiology, etc.) with fantastic tools for modifying and quantifying genes and their products.
The EU is deepening our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the organization, maintenance, replication, and expression (transcription, post-transcriptional modifications, translation) of eukaryotic genomes.
In particular, we will explore the properties of information-carrying macromolecules (DNA, RNA, proteins) and how the interactions between them account for the functioning of eukaryotic cells and their adaptation to the environment and to the development of organisms.
At the same time, the main techniques used to monitor or modify gene expression—or to study the mechanisms underlying gene expression—will be covered in lectures and explored in greater depth in tutorials through the analysis of results.
Thus, the tutorials address these topics through (1) exercises that allow students to assess their understanding of the concepts described above, and (2) experiments drawn from scientific articles for analysis. In this way, students will acquire and/or deepen their understanding of the fundamentals of scientific reasoning and the critical analysis of results.
Functional Genetics
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
5 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Functional genetics aims to better understand the relationships between genotype and phenotype. This course covers various aspects of analyzing gene and genome function at the whole-genome level using in vivo approaches, as well as transcriptional regulation and the regulation of gene expression in eukaryotic genomes. The course is illustrated with concrete examples from developmental genetics in both physiological and pathological contexts.
Integrated Cellular Metabolism
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
5 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course unit enables students to deepen their understanding of metabolism. It provides a comprehensive overview of human metabolism. It will emphasize the connections between various metabolic pathways. It will also demonstrate how different tissues communicate with one another to maintain overall energy homeostasis. Disruptions in this metabolic process that lead to certain diseases will be discussed.
Structural Biology and Interactions
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
5 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course builds on the Structural Biochemistry course taken in S5. Students will learn the basic concepts of the various approaches used for multiscale structural characterization, as well as the analysis of macromolecular interactions. The advantages and limitations of all these tools will be highlighted so that students can understand how they complement one another and learn to use them in an integrated manner to address a given biological question.
The lab sessions will combine the application of structural analysis using visualization tools (such as PyMOL) with the analysis of research articles that employ a combination of the approaches covered in the lecture series. Students will then be required to design their own experimental project to address a specific research question.
Mathematics for Biology
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course provides a concise overview of the concepts necessary for mathematical modeling in biology. The focus is on linear and nonlinear dynamical systems in one and two dimensions. The course begins with essential concepts in linear algebra: matrices, systems of linear equations, and the geometric interpretation of the solutions to these systems as vectors and subspaces (lines, planes, etc.). The theory of vectors and eigenvalues of matrices is introduced in relation to linear dynamical systems. For nonlinear dynamical systems, the qualitative theory of differential equations (attractors, phase portraits, zero-level isoclines) is presented as an alternative to the often complicated calculation of solutions. The tutorial covers a wide range of biological models used in ecology, epidemiology, oncology, and systems biology.
Biochemistry Lab Sessions
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
6 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course unit enables students to consolidate and deepen their understanding of the practical management of large amounts of experimental data collected during a one-week block of lab work (5 consecutive days). This data is collected through the implementation of numerous different protocols, with a focus on ensuring the best possible reproducibility of the experiments and maximizing efficiency in the preparation, execution, and analysis of the various experiments. A high degree of autonomy in setting up the protocols will be encouraged, ultimately leading to experimental proficiency and independence. These lab sessions also provide opportunities for group work (in pairs or groups of three, depending on facility capacity and class size) and for writing a report that thoroughly documents the protocols carried out, all experimental data obtained, and their analyses in order to determine a wide range of biochemical parameters. A significant portion of the evaluation will be based on the students’ ability to generate, manage, utilize, and analyze raw experimental data with the utmost rigor.
Molecular Engineering
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Spring
As part of this course unit, students will learn the experimental principles involved in working with nucleic acids. The lectures will focus on two main areas:
- Development of molecular tools (cloning, nucleic acid analysis, vectorology) ii. Their applications (recombinant protein expression, genomic banking, transgenesis, the CRISPR/Cas9 system, etc.) and reflection on ethical issues in biology.
The tutorials will consist of:
- Analysis of articles presenting problems to be solved using the knowledge gained in the course. The chosen topics will, as much as possible, relate to parallel course units in the third year of the bachelor’s program. Students will present these articles in the form of oral presentations, in groups of 3 to 4 students, to the entire class.
- Sessions dedicated to using basic bioinformatics tools in the computer lab.
Advanced Cell Biology 2: Key Concepts
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
5 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course unit, offered in both lecture and tutorial formats, aims to build upon the concepts of cell biology covered in the second year in BCM2 and BCM3 through the study of physiological and pathological conditions, such as cancer.
These courses will introduce students to the importance of selecting a model system (cell lines or organisms for in vivo study, such as Drosophila, C. elegans, and zebrafish) that is suitable for addressing a specific research question and elucidating a molecular mechanism.
The lab sessions will provide students with hands-on experience with advanced concepts in cell biology, in conjunction with knowledge of the most commonly used methodologies in the field—such as flow cytometry, advanced fluorescence microscopy and electron microscopy techniques, and proteomics—as well as familiarity with experimental models such as cultured cells and animal models, both genetically modified and non-genetically modified (C. elegans, zebrafish, transgenic mice, knockout (KO) and knock-in (KI) mice, etc.)
Systems Biology
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Systems biology offers the opportunity to understand how living organisms function at different organizational scales. This course will focus primarily on the subcellular scale. At this scale, systems biology models integrate multiple levels of interaction involving the transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome. Predictions from in silico models can be used in biomedical research to understand multifactorial diseases and optimize drug treatments; in bioengineering to synthesize genomes with optimized properties and functions (synthetic biology); and to guide basic research into the principles of how living systems function. The course consists of a theoretical component (lectures and tutorials on the modeling of gene, signaling, and metabolic networks) and a practical component (computer labs using MATLAB software).
Project or Internship
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The structure of this course is specifically tailored to the various tracks within the L3 program. Nevertheless, the objectives are the same: to give students an overview of the professional world related to life sciences research.
Students will be offered a short internship in a laboratory or company, or a supervised project with a mentor working in a laboratory or company related to biology.
CHOICE 1
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Bioinformatics Applied to Plant Biology
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Bioinformatics is a discipline at the intersection of computer science, mathematics, and the life sciences. It relies in particular on the use and development of computational tools for analyzing massive amounts of biological data. Ultimately, this big data can be organized into online, searchable databases so that users can extract data relevant to a biological problem.
The course unit “Bioinformatics Applied to Plant Biology” aims to familiarize students with the use of databases and provide an introduction to data exploration using the R software.
Virtually all instruction will take the form of practical exercises in the computer lab in small groups of students.
In the first part, students will learn the basics of the R programming language, which will enable them to organize and clean their raw data so that it can be fully utilized for subsequent analyses. Next, they will learn how to create clear graphical representations based on biological data. Particular attention will be given to writing reusable scripts and selecting appropriate graphics for the calculations based on the biological question at hand.
In the second part of the course, students will use general-purpose databases such as NCBI or those dedicated exclusively to the model plant Arabidopsis (TAIR) to conduct data mining.
Innovative Approaches in Metabolic Engineering
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
In this course unit, students work in groups to conduct a literature review on a selection of medicinal plants during tutored seminars in order to identify the plant’s biomolecules that may have biological or even pharmacological properties. Using documents provided to them, each group identifies, proposes, and implements—during laboratory sessions—an extraction protocol and a simple biological activity test protocol to assess the biostatic, antibiotic, or antioxidant activity of the targeted molecules. The literature review process, the results obtained during the practical sessions, and their analysis and interpretation will be discussed during a poster presentation session, which will be evaluated.
Plant Development
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
7 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course is a specialization module in Functional Plant Biology that explores the mechanisms underlying the major stages of plant development.
It draws on knowledge derived primarily from the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana and addresses the following concepts from molecular, cellular, and physiological perspectives:
- Roles and Functions of the Major Phytohormones.
- Development of male and female gametes; fertilization.
- Development of the embryo, seed, and fruit.
- Function of root and stem meristems (vegetative and floral).
- The Architecture of the Flower.
- Mechanisms of adaptive development in response to abiotic factors: light, gravity, and cold.
Certain aspects of development will also be analyzed from an evolutionary perspective by studying the role of developmental genes in the diversification and evolution of developmental processes in land plants (evolution of the root system, floral architecture, etc.).
Communication Skills and Scientific English
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course describes the methodology used by life sciences researchers to communicate the results of their experiments, both in writing and orally. Since English is the common language of international researchers, a large portion of this course is taught in English.
Written communication is addressed through an examination of the (macro) structure of a research article, as well as through an examination of the publication process in scientific journals. Several elements of written (micro) structure are examined in order to understand the differences between scientific English and literary English: clarity, cohesion, and coherence.
These courses are supplemented by a supervised project during the semester, in which students are required to analyze a research article recently published in the scientific literature and present it as an oral presentation (lecture) in English.
English S5
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Molecular Biology
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
5 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Molecular biology is not only a fascinating field of study in its own right, but it also provides other branches of biology (cell biology, genetics, physiology, etc.) with fantastic tools for modifying and quantifying genes and their products.
The EU is deepening our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the organization, maintenance, replication, and expression (transcription, post-transcriptional modifications, translation) of eukaryotic genomes.
In particular, we will explore the properties of information-carrying macromolecules (DNA, RNA, proteins) and how the interactions between them account for the functioning of eukaryotic cells and their adaptation to the environment and to the development of organisms.
At the same time, the main techniques used to monitor or modify gene expression—or to study the mechanisms underlying gene expression—will be covered in lectures and explored in greater depth in tutorials through the analysis of results.
Thus, the tutorials address these topics through (1) exercises that allow students to assess their understanding of the concepts described above, and (2) experiments drawn from scientific articles for analysis. In this way, students will acquire and/or deepen their understanding of the fundamentals of scientific reasoning and the critical analysis of results.
Biotechnology S5
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course covers the various categories of biotechnology according to their fields of application:
- Plant biotechnology relates to the agri-food sector and encompasses a range of technologies that use plant organisms and their cells to produce and process food products, biomaterials, and energy, as well as recombinant proteins for therapeutic purposes.
- Animal biotechnology encompasses the fields of health, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and tissue engineering, as well as the development of genetic or molecular processes for therapeutic purposes.
- Microbial biotechnology involves the use of microorganisms (viruses or bacteria) and their cultivation in the food and pharmaceutical industries, as well as their role in environmental protection.
The curriculum for students in the third year of the Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences is designed to enable them to discover or deepen their theoretical knowledge of various biotechnologies and to master the associated tools and applications.
Functional Genetics
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
5 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Functional genetics aims to better understand the relationships between genotype and phenotype. This course covers various aspects of analyzing gene and genome function at the whole-genome level using in vivo approaches, as well as transcriptional regulation and the regulation of gene expression in eukaryotic genomes. The course is illustrated with concrete examples from developmental genetics in both physiological and pathological contexts.
Fundamentals of Agroecology
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
After defining intensive agriculture and analyzing its risks and benefits, this module will enable students to reflect on various possible approaches to transitioning agriculture toward an agroecological model. Examples such as biopesticides, ecological intensification, and soil management will be explored. A field trip to a company committed to sustainable agriculture is also organized. The site visited varies from year to year depending on student preferences and company availability. Examples of field trips conducted as part of this module include visits to Bayer, Vilmorin, Geves, CTIFL, and sudExpé.
Bachelor's degrees.
Students will be asked to present a project or business plan that develops innovative proposals to advance farming practices or any other use of plant products in order to reduce environmental impact.
Autotrophy
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
8 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course unit presents the major functions of carbon, mineral, and water nutrition in plants that enable their autotrophy (the production of their biomass). It will provide the necessary foundation for understanding the fundamental mechanisms of nutrient absorption, distribution, and assimilation. The course unit will consist of two main parts: one dedicated to mineral nutrition and the other to carbon nutrition.
After reviewing the properties of membranes and plant cell walls and the concepts of transmembrane transport, the section of the course devoted to mineral nutrition will cover the mechanisms of water absorption and circulation, root absorption, subcellular compartmentalization, and mineral distribution, as well as nitrogen assimilation metabolism.
The chapter on carbon nutrition will discuss how chloroplasts function in plant cells, photosynthesis (the capture of light energy and the synthesis of primary carbon compounds), the production of organic compounds, and their distribution within the plant.
Green Internship
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course unit is an introductory module to scientific research in fundamental or applied plant agricultural sciences. Students must complete an internship of 10 weeks or more (which may continue through the summer) in a research laboratory (CNRS, INRAE, IRD, CIRAD), at an applied research organization such as GEVES, CTIFL, SudExpe, Serfel, or IFV, or at a private company such as Staphyt, AgroXp, or Vilmorin. There are numerous internship opportunities in this field in the Montpellier area.
This is a module designed to prepare students for the professional world by connecting them with key players in the field of plant agricultural sciences, giving students the opportunity to:
- to apply the techniques learned in the various course units of the BiPAgro track of the bachelor’s degree program.
- to gain experience in the professional world
- to develop your own career plan and enhance your resume
The student writes a thesis, which he or she defends before a committee composed of faculty members, researchers, and/or field technicians or engineers.
Plant Genetic Engineering
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
6 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
In this course unit, students deepen their understanding of the various methods of plant transgenesis using biological, chemical, or physical vectors, as well as their acceptability and applications in fields as diverse as plant breeding, the production of biomolecules, and recombinant therapeutic proteins. In seminars, students are encouraged to research, reflect, present arguments, and debate transgenesis and its alternatives through a scenario related to plant breeding. In lab sessions, students work to refine a protocol for producing root hairs, applying the knowledge they have acquired in class.
Project or Internship
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The structure of this course is specifically tailored to the various tracks within the L3 program. Nevertheless, the objectives are the same: to give students an overview of the professional world related to life sciences research.
Students will be offered a short internship in a laboratory or company, or a supervised project with a mentor working in a laboratory or company related to biology.
S5 Supervised Projects
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Students will be required to conduct a literature review on a topic of their choice, which must be approved by the course instructors. Under the guidance of a faculty member, students must address the research question they have identified through an analysis of the available literature. They must provide a review of the current state of the art in their field, identifying areas of uncertainty, controversy, and unresolved questions. They must conduct a genuine critical scientific analysis of the available literature, rather than merely summarizing it. They must adhere to the conventions for writing a scientific article, including citing sources, synthesizing information through illustrations, framing the research question, and synthesizing scientific results.
Evolutionary Ecology
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Fall
This unit builds on the "Basics of Evolution" unit to introduce the main concepts in evolutionary ecology, with the aim of understanding and formally describing, in a straightforward manner, the evolutionary and ecological mechanisms that shape biodiversity at various levels of integration.
This course unit is designed as a coherent whole in which lectures, tutorials, and lab sessions complement one another. Concepts are introduced through examples and then formalized using mathematical models, which are then tested against experimental results and real-world data.
It will cover population dynamics (intra- and interspecific competition) and ecological niches, and will detail the mechanisms of evolution and their genetic consequences at the population level: natural selection (including sexual selection), the influence of reproductive strategies, and genetic drift. The tutorials will enable students to master the mathematical formalization of concepts covered in class, their simple computer modeling, and the analysis of datasets. The lab sessions will involve conducting and analyzing, in small groups, two experiments lasting one month each (including the writing of a report and an oral presentation) in order to develop scientific methodology and reasoning.
Genetic Bases of Evolution
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Fall
The EU is organized into five major areas:
Topic 1: Genetic mapping and recombination. Concepts in molecular biology related to gene expression, DNA repair, and epigenetic processes.
Topic 2: Introduction to Molecular Evolution: Measuring the intensity of selection in genetic divergence. The molecular clock and variation in evolutionary rates caused by natural selection. The neutral theory of evolution.
Topic 3: Introduction to Genomics: Composition and Size of Genomes. Importance of Repeated Elements. Concepts of Genetic Linkage and Local Selection Effects. Influence of Demographics.
Topic 4: Molecular Tools for Biodiversity: Barcoding, eDNA, metabarcoding. Molecular taxonomy. Limitations related to hybridization. Applications in conservation.
Topic 5: Extranuclear inheritance . Symbiosis, parasitism, and coevolution (intracellular: e.g., Wolbachia). The concept of the extended phenotype.
CHOICE 1
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Geology of Sedimentary Basins
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The origin, nature, and future of deposits in sedimentary basins.
Series of 15 classes / lectures / discussions and lab sessions / tutorials
Course Content / Integrated Lectures, Lab, and Tutorials (sedimentary basins, continental weathering,
sediment transport, detrital and carbonate environments, factors affecting sedimentation: sequential stratigraphy, diagenesis)
Organization, Development, and Diversity of Spermatophytes
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The course aims to provide students with an integrative approach to the morphology, anatomy, and development of the vegetative and reproductive systems of spermatophytes, from ecological, functional, and evolutionary perspectives. Students implement this approach through a supervised project focused on the study of a model plant, taking into account interindividual variability, different stages of development, site conditions, and biological type.
Naturalist Specialization 2
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The structure of this course is similar to that developed in S4. The objective is to provide students with knowledge of the biology, ecology, and evolution of the three taxonomic groups in question. Beyond species identification (which will be covered extensively), this course unit will address the evolution and systematics of the taxonomic group in question, fundamental ecology (evolutionary and functional ecology), applied ecology (conservation), physiology, legislation, as well as methods of study and identification.
Following a general introductory session, two parallel tracks will be offered. One will focus on cryptogams (algae, lichens, mosses, and fungi), and the other on fauna (chiropods and arthropods).
Cryptogames
The objective of this module is to familiarize students with the extremely diverse groups of organisms known as bryophytes, phaeophytes, and fungi. The approach is 1) to explore these little-known diversities through a naturalistic lens, 2) to place these observations in an evolutionary context (phylogenetic aspects), and 3) to relate the observations to the role of these organisms in terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
Finally, the module will address aspects of daily life—whether economic or civic—related to species (toxicology, food, medicine).
Wildlife
The goal for students is to acquire or deepen their knowledge of the biology of arthropods and bats, which are taxonomic groups of great interest, both from the perspective of fundamental ecological studies (ethology, evolutionary ecology, functional ecology), as in applied ecology (conservation biology) and environmental education/teaching. Beyond species identification, this area of study will address the evolution and systematics of these taxa, their physiology, their ecological and behavioral characteristics, and their roles in ecosystems. Instruction will incorporate innovative pedagogical approaches, combining the use of traditional tools (visual recognition) with modern ones (acoustic identification using software). Among the arthropods, the groups of particular focus will be Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Odonata, and Orthoptera, which represent highly diverse orders that will best enable us to address the concept of species, which is central to biology. Species identification will serve as a foundation for studying their biology and ecology and for exploring the concepts of evolution and phylogeny.
Each group (Fauna – Cryptogams) will have 12 hours of fieldwork time available (half of which will be shared by both groups), to be carried out according to terms to be determined (4 half-day field trips, or 2 full-day field trips). The practical sessions may be held at university sites (the university campus, the Labex CEMEB experimental plot at the CEFE, and the Botanical Garden) that are suitable for studying the various organisms.
Cross-Curricular Concept
The EU is organized around a concept common to both practical training groups, which—through a flipped classroom approach—will allow students to use observed species as a starting point to identify central concepts in conservation biology. In S5, the concept of species (and associated entities such as subspecies, hybrids, etc.) will be extensively addressed from both theoretical and practical perspectives. This concept will enable us to address 1. the foundations and limitations of different perspectives on species (morphological, genetic, ecological), 2. the methodological challenges associated with identifying taxa in the field and in the laboratory, and 3. the issues this raises from the perspective of species conservation. To this end, at the end of the course, students will present a taxon—selected from those proposed in the course unit—whose identification proves to be complex.
Animal Behavioral Biology
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The goal of this course is to understand animal behavior in an integrative manner, in light of Tinbergen’s four “whys,” from its ontogeny to its evolution: from its ontogeny and neurobiological causes to its evolution and biological functions. In addition to historical, conceptual, and methodological insights, students will be guided to understand the diversity of the traits involved as well as the variety of scientific approaches and questions associated with them.
Ecotoxicology
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Ecotoxicology is the study of the effects of pollutants on living organisms and on the structure and functioning of ecosystems. This course unit aims to provide a better understanding of:
- the main types of organic and inorganic pollutants (both historical and emerging), as well as their sources and the factors influencing their fate in the natural environment and in organisms,
- the effects of pollutants on micro- and macro-organisms at different levels of biological organization (molecule, individual, communities),
- methods for assessing biological effects, environmental quality, and ecotoxicological risk within the current European regulatory framework,
- bioremediation processes, as illustrated by several case studies.
Comparative Animal Physiology of Integrated Systems
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The objective of this course offered in L3S5 is to provide students with knowledge about the organization, development, and functioning of various physiological systems in animals. More specifically, the functions of circulation, thermoregulation, hormonal regulation, and neural integration will be addressed using a comparative approach (with examples drawn from different taxonomic groups) and within an evolutionary context. Issues related to the bioethical aspects of animal physiology research will also be addressed.
Animal Behavioral Biology
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The goal of this course is to understand animal behavior in an integrative manner, in light of Tinbergen’s four “whys,” from its ontogeny to its evolution: from its ontogeny and neurobiological causes to its evolution and biological functions. In addition to historical, conceptual, and methodological insights, students will be guided to understand the diversity of the traits involved as well as the variety of scientific approaches and questions associated with them.
Ecotoxicology
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Ecotoxicology is the study of the effects of pollutants on living organisms and on the structure and functioning of ecosystems. This course unit aims to provide a better understanding of:
- the main types of organic and inorganic pollutants (both historical and emerging), as well as their sources and the factors influencing their fate in the natural environment and in organisms,
- the effects of pollutants on micro- and macro-organisms at different levels of biological organization (molecule, individual, communities),
- methods for assessing biological effects, environmental quality, and ecotoxicological risk within the current European regulatory framework,
- bioremediation processes, as illustrated by several case studies.
Naturalist Specialization 2
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The structure of this course is similar to that developed in S4. The objective is to provide students with knowledge of the biology, ecology, and evolution of the three taxonomic groups in question. Beyond species identification (which will be covered extensively), this course unit will address the evolution and systematics of the taxonomic group in question, fundamental ecology (evolutionary and functional ecology), applied ecology (conservation), physiology, legislation, as well as methods of study and identification.
Following a general introductory session, two parallel tracks will be offered. One will focus on cryptogams (algae, lichens, mosses, and fungi), and the other on fauna (chiropods and arthropods).
Cryptogames
The objective of this module is to familiarize students with the extremely diverse groups of organisms known as bryophytes, phaeophytes, and fungi. The approach is 1) to explore these little-known diversities through a naturalistic lens, 2) to place these observations in an evolutionary context (phylogenetic aspects), and 3) to relate the observations to the role of these organisms in terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
Finally, the module will address aspects of daily life—whether economic or civic—related to species (toxicology, food, medicine).
Wildlife
The goal for students is to acquire or deepen their knowledge of the biology of arthropods and bats, which are taxonomic groups of great interest, both from the perspective of fundamental ecological studies (ethology, evolutionary ecology, functional ecology), as in applied ecology (conservation biology) and environmental education/teaching. Beyond species identification, this area of study will address the evolution and systematics of these taxa, their physiology, their ecological and behavioral characteristics, and their roles in ecosystems. Instruction will incorporate innovative pedagogical approaches, combining the use of traditional tools (visual recognition) with modern ones (acoustic identification using software). Among the arthropods, the groups of particular focus will be Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Odonata, and Orthoptera, which represent highly diverse orders that will best enable us to address the concept of species, which is central to biology. Species identification will serve as a foundation for studying their biology and ecology and for exploring the concepts of evolution and phylogeny.
Each group (Fauna – Cryptogams) will have 12 hours of fieldwork time available (half of which will be shared by both groups), to be carried out according to terms to be determined (4 half-day field trips, or 2 full-day field trips). The practical sessions may be held at university sites (the university campus, the Labex CEMEB experimental plot at the CEFE, and the Botanical Garden) that are suitable for studying the various organisms.
Cross-Curricular Concept
The EU is organized around a concept common to both practical training groups, which—through a flipped classroom approach—will allow students to use observed species as a starting point to identify central concepts in conservation biology. In S5, the concept of species (and associated entities such as subspecies, hybrids, etc.) will be extensively addressed from both theoretical and practical perspectives. This concept will enable us to address 1. the foundations and limitations of different perspectives on species (morphological, genetic, ecological), 2. the methodological challenges associated with identifying taxa in the field and in the laboratory, and 3. the issues this raises from the perspective of species conservation. To this end, at the end of the course, students will present a taxon—selected from those proposed in the course unit—whose identification proves to be complex.
Organization, Development, and Diversity of Spermatophytes
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The course aims to provide students with an integrative approach to the morphology, anatomy, and development of the vegetative and reproductive systems of spermatophytes, from ecological, functional, and evolutionary perspectives. Students implement this approach through a supervised project focused on the study of a model plant, taking into account interindividual variability, different stages of development, site conditions, and biological type.
Geology of Sedimentary Basins
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The origin, nature, and future of deposits in sedimentary basins.
Series of 15 classes / lectures / discussions and lab sessions / tutorials
Course Content / Integrated Lectures, Lab, and Tutorials (sedimentary basins, continental weathering,
sediment transport, detrital and carbonate environments, factors affecting sedimentation: sequential stratigraphy, diagenesis)
Views of the Landscape
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Microorganisms
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Fall
This course will cover the concepts necessary for understanding the way of life of the major groups of single-celled organisms that form the basis of ecosystem functioning (viruses, bacteria, archaea, and single-celled eukaryotes, etc.). The lectures will cover the biological organization of each type of organism, their modes of reproduction, and their diversity, leading to an understanding of ecological concepts. We will examine the role of these microorganisms in the functioning and dynamics of ecosystems, considering the interactions these organisms have with other living beings (the concept of “symbiosis” in all its forms).
The hands-on exercises will allow students to:
- the implementation of techniques for bacterial counting (CFU) and the identification of a specific strain from an environmental sample
- highlighting the diversity of phytoplankton (single-celled algae) in aquatic environments (freshwater)
- identifying the unique characteristics of interactions between bacteria and bacteriophages
Diversity and Evolution of Present-Day and Past Metazoans N3
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Fall
The main objective is to learn the basics of the comparative anatomy of chordates so that we can compare and classify them, before tracing the key stages of their evolutionary history. The course is integrative in that it draws on both extant organisms and the fossil record to document the evolutionary history of the clade in its entirety and from all angles. Anatomical, biomechanical, phylogenetic, and ecomorphological approaches will be covered in lectures to illustrate the diversity and major characteristics of chordates. The lab sessions (and tutorials) will illustrate the evolution of diversity in the integument, skeleton, musculature, and digestive and respiratory systems over long time scales.
Modeling Biological Data
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course is a natural continuation of the course “Quantification of Randomness” (HAV424B) offered in Semester 4. It is designed to provide students with the concepts needed to develop experimental protocols that address biological questions and to apply appropriate models for analyzing variability. The first part will focus on designing experimental protocols capable of addressing a wide range of questions in the life sciences, specifically by taking into account the inevitable dependencies among statistical individuals, such as kinship and the spatial or temporal structure of populations. This section will thus provide an opportunity to address the concepts of fluctuation, replication, and pseudo-replication, which will be incorporated into the models developed in the second part of the course. The second part will focus on demonstrating the link between the experimental protocol implemented and the modeling of the variability of a quantitative response variable, through the development of models that include several qualitative or quantitative variables. Particular attention will be paid to the conditions under which these methods are applicable, to Type I and Type II errors, to methods for estimating the parameters of the constructed models (including likelihood), and to the interpretation of the estimated parameters. Each concept will be illustrated through the analysis of real biological data from various fields, thereby helping students discover not only current and common biological questions but also the tools developed to address them. Hands-on exercises using R will enable students to independently perform analyses on published biological case studies.
English S5
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Fall
Evolutionary Ecology and Its Applications
ECTS
1 credit
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Through five major themes, we will explore the fundamental connections between the principles of evolution and evolutionary ecology—as covered in previous course units—and their current societal applications.
These five major themes are: human evolution, biodiversity conservation, the domestication of animal and plant species, evolutionary medicine, and major global crises and disruptions
Two sessions on understanding and summarizing scientific articles are held in conjunction with the course unit "Evolutionary Ecology and Its Applications."
Supervised Projects, Semester 6
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
In Semester 6, students will have the choice between two types of student projects: (1) setting up a “Scientific Partners for the Classroom” (ASTEP) program, or (2) developing a protocol for Data Acquisition and Processing (ATD). For the ASTEP project, students will carry out a science outreach project with preschool or elementary school classes in the Hérault region (scientific topics defined by partner schools). Students will then need to develop one or more experiments to conduct with the classes, collect data with the students, and teach scientific concepts to the participating students. For the ATD project, students will need to propose a data acquisition protocol to answer a scientific question of their choice. This protocol may be carried out in the field, in a laboratory, or consist of a meta-analysis.
Diversity and Phylogeny of Angiosperms
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Spring
The objective of this EU is to provide an overview of the diversity of angiosperms, examined through the lens of the most recent phylogenies proposed bythe Angiosperm Phylogeny Group ( APG). This phylogenetic framework will be supported throughout the course by the practical observation of vegetative and floral characters in a selection of taxa spanning the entire phylogeny, in order to identify the synapomorphies of the major clades, any homoplasies, as well as adaptations (floral biology, pollination, trophic interactions, etc.).
Students also explore the diversity of angiosperms from a floristic perspective by creating a herbarium of species that are generally Mediterranean in origin. In the process, they become familiar with the use of a flora and digital identification tools (such as Pl@ntNet and Tela Botanica’s e-Flore).
Evolutionary Ecology and Its Applications
ECTS
5 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Through five major themes, we will explore the fundamental connections between the principles of evolution and evolutionary ecology—as covered in previous course units—and their current societal applications.
These five major themes are: human evolution, biodiversity conservation, the domestication of animal and plant species, evolutionary medicine, and major global crises and disruptions.
Species Assemblages from the Local to the Global Level
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Students in the University’s general bachelor’s degree program take various introductory courses in ecology during their first two years of study. By their third year (L3), they explore several fundamental concepts related to how individuals adapt to their environment and to interactions between species (Concepts in Evolutionary Ecology HLBE503). In particular, they explore r/K evolutionary strategies, linking the adaptation of life cycles to disturbance regimes in natural environments. I propose to integrate the study of communities as a natural extension of these foundational concepts, in order to illustrate the role of species’ evolutionary strategies in community formation. This course will be based on a instructional sequence consisting of lectures, tutorials, and practical work carried out in the form of field projects.
The lectures will present the fundamentals of community ecology through three sections. The first will focus on the definition of a community and will explore the historical development of the discipline through the perspectives of Gleason (1926) and Clements (1916). The second section will introduce the elements used to describe communities, including the concepts of diversity (alpha, beta, gamma) and their various indices. Finally, the third section will guide students in reflecting on the rules governing community composition, through the role of r/K evolutionary strategies in succession, as well as the concepts of environmental filtering and functional similarity constraints.
These courses will run in parallel with a series of tutorials organized according to a “data collection–analysis–interpretation” framework. Initially, the use ofserious games will enable students to collect data based on simplified ecological mechanisms. To this end, several serious games designed to simulate communities are currently under development. Students will collect this data to prepare for their analysis. The analysis will take the form of a computer-based workshop to help students become familiar with calculating diversity indices. Finally, time will be set aside to review the literature to determine whether the patterns identified throughout the sequence have a biological basis and whether they have been observed in nature (independent work and report).
Once the tutorial session is over, students will begin setting up in situ community ecology experiments through an introduction to field ecology, in the form of independent projects. As part of this lab, a workshop will be held to test Grime’s (1988) competitive (C), stress-tolerant (S), and ruderal (R) strategies through the analysis of plant functional traits. Simple methods have recently been published that allow individuals (and, a fortiori, communities) to be placed on Grime’s triangle (Pierce et al., 2017). The sequence will begin with a field trip on campus: students will select two contrasting habitats (lawns, ruderal areas, woods, old walls) where they will conduct a floristic inventory. Following this, they will collect several individuals of each species, which they will bring back to the lab to measure various functional traits. Once the measurements are complete, they will be able to calculate the various indices related to the CSR strategy. The module will conclude with the writing of a report and an oral presentation. Other workshops are currently being developed.
CHOICE 1
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Field Methods in Ecology
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The course will consist of a scenario that students will be required to address. The course faculty will represent the management teams of engineering firms responsible for conducting impact studies following a development project.
Students will take on the roles of experts from engineering firms and will be required to conduct analyses of the project area. They must submit a report on their environmental impact study, in which they will identify environmental issues and rank them by importance. They must also give an oral presentation of their study.
The course will consist of six 2-hour tutorial sessions at the beginning of the semester, during which the following topics will be covered:
Session 1: Overview of the EU; explanation of what an environmental impact assessment is and what is expected of such an assessment (this portion will be led by a professional whose job is specifically to review environmental impact assessments); overview of the designations of the areas under study: ZNIEFF, Natura 2000.
TD2–6: Overview of analytical methods for various groups of organisms (plants, arthropods, reptiles and amphibians, birds and bats, soil fauna, etc.).
For the rest of the EU, students will be required to propose research protocols that allow for an estimation of the potential impacts of the proposed project. The protocols put in place must enable the most accurate possible assessment of these impacts, and the research teams must include a budget for their activities. They will then have field sessions to implement their protocols, collect data, and analyze it. The faculty team will mentor the groups to guide them in their work. Students will write a thesis based on a set of guidelines provided by the faculty team. This final project must be supported by field data and data from the literature. Students will present and defend their work before the faculty team during an oral presentation.
Several study areas in Montpellier were identified for the project: Triolet Campus, Mosson River, Vallet Park, Downtown Montpellier, Méric Park, Lez Riverbanks, Lauze Garrigues…
Biodiversity Conservation: Ethics, Threats, and Restoration
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This learning unit provides an introductory overview of conservation science from the perspectives of various stakeholders:
- scientific approach: a fundamental and practical approach to the conservation and restoration of populations and communities
- societal approach : the role of scientists in the management of species and ecological habitats, and their interactions with other conservation stakeholders (managers, local stakeholders)
- Ethical approach : reflection on the values of biodiversity (quantifiable, preferential, normative) and their applications according to different models, viewed within a historical context (primarily ecosystem services and sustainable development)
Modeling Living Systems: Applications
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This introductory course will build on the mathematical tools covered throughout the bachelor’s program—and particularly in the “Modeling Living Systems: Theory” course (a fourth-semester elective)—to provide an overview of the various approaches and techniques used in modeling living systems. All major families of mathematical models will be covered: static models (optimization problems, game theory) as well as dynamic models (extensions of the systems studied in S4, introduction to stochastic processes). Examples of applications for these models will be diverse, covering numerous biological systems as well as different levels of organization (metabolic, epidemiological, and metacommunity models, among others). Particular attention will be given to epistemological aspects (the contributions of modeling to the development of theories in the life sciences) and practical aspects (identifiability, calibration, and parametric sensitivity on the one hand, and numerical implementation and simulations on the other). Finally, the course will provide students with an opportunity to become familiar with research topics involving modeling that are being developed in the Montpellier area.
Nature Project
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course unit is structured around a professional assessment approach in which students will be placed in real-world situations to demonstrate their naturalist skills. It will consist of a field study, with a primary focus on field supervision through SPS for project monitoring. In this regard, it follows the approach of the former CMI (Opus 4).
Eight groups of five students will work on conducting a survey of a specific taxon as part of a clearly defined scientific research project. The study area will vary from year to year and will be selected by the teaching team based on opportunities for collaboration with organizations interested in the proposed approach. The organizations being considered are:
- the Languedoc-Roussillon Conservatory of Natural Areas
- Lunaret Zoo, which manages the Lez Nature Reserve
- the Montpellier metropolitan area
The presentation will consist of a joint report for the entire class, including a prioritization of conservation issues. The agencies responsible for managing the study areas will be invited to attend the presentations.
Paleoecology and Biostratigraphy
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The goal of this course unit is to acquire, reinforce, and synthesize concepts and knowledge in evolutionary paleontology, sedimentology, and paleoecology, and to apply them to the fossil record. Taken together, these concepts provide the keys to inferring the stratigraphic context and past environments in which extinct organisms lived.
Nature Project
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course unit is structured around a professional assessment approach in which students will be placed in real-world situations to demonstrate their naturalist skills. It will consist of a field study, with a primary focus on field supervision through SPS for project monitoring. In this regard, it follows the approach of the former CMI (Opus 4).
Eight groups of five students will work on conducting a survey of a specific taxon as part of a clearly defined scientific research project. The study area will vary from year to year and will be selected by the teaching team based on opportunities for collaboration with organizations interested in the proposed approach. The organizations being considered are:
- the Languedoc-Roussillon Conservatory of Natural Areas
- Lunaret Zoo, which manages the Lez Nature Reserve
- the Montpellier metropolitan area
The presentation will consist of a joint report for the entire class, including a prioritization of conservation issues. The agencies responsible for managing the study areas will be invited to attend the presentations.
Field Methods in Ecology
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The course will consist of a scenario that students will be required to address. The course faculty will represent the management teams of engineering firms responsible for conducting impact studies following a development project.
Students will take on the roles of experts from engineering firms and will be required to conduct analyses of the project area. They must submit a report on their environmental impact study, in which they will identify environmental issues and rank them by importance. They must also give an oral presentation of their study.
The course will consist of six 2-hour tutorial sessions at the beginning of the semester, during which the following topics will be covered:
Session 1: Overview of the EU; explanation of what an environmental impact assessment is and what is expected of such an assessment (this portion will be led by a professional whose job is specifically to review environmental impact assessments); overview of the designations of the areas under study: ZNIEFF, Natura 2000.
TD2–6: Overview of analytical methods for various groups of organisms (plants, arthropods, reptiles and amphibians, birds and bats, soil fauna, etc.).
For the rest of the EU, students will be required to propose research protocols that allow for an estimation of the potential impacts of the proposed project. The protocols put in place must enable the most accurate possible assessment of these impacts, and the research teams must include a budget for their activities. They will then have field sessions to implement their protocols, collect data, and analyze it. The faculty team will mentor the groups to guide them in their work. Students will write a thesis based on a set of guidelines provided by the faculty team. This final project must be supported by field data and data from the literature. Students will present and defend their work before the faculty team during an oral presentation.
Several study areas in Montpellier were identified for the project: Triolet Campus, Mosson River, Vallet Park, Downtown Montpellier, Méric Park, Lez Riverbanks, Lauze Garrigues…
Forest Ecology
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Biodiversity Conservation: Ethics, Threats, and Restoration
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This learning unit provides an introductory overview of conservation science from the perspectives of various stakeholders:
- scientific approach: a fundamental and practical approach to the conservation and restoration of populations and communities
- societal approach : the role of scientists in the management of species and ecological habitats, and their interactions with other conservation stakeholders (managers, local stakeholders)
- Ethical approach : reflection on the values of biodiversity (quantifiable, preferential, normative) and their applications according to different models, viewed within a historical context (primarily ecosystem services and sustainable development)
Mathematical Modeling of Living Systems
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Paleoecology and Biostratigraphy
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Spring
CHOICE 2
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Architecture and Morphogenesis of the Whole Plant
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Introduce students to an integrated approach to plant biology through the study of the morpho-anatomical characteristics of stems and roots. Help them discover the coordinated spatio-temporal development of root and stem architectures through the adaptations of Mediterranean and tropical species. Reproductive structures and the diversity of biological types will also be addressed. This course unit serves as preparation for the BioGET track of the BE Master’s program and draws on the natural environment as well as local and regional facilities (Amazonian Greenhouse, Villa Thuret, Château La Pérouse Garden).
Aquatic Ecology
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course provides an introduction to the ecology of continental freshwater ecosystems and marine ecosystems, as well as to the transitional environments between these two compartments—namely, mangroves, estuaries, and deltas. These ecosystems will be examined from both structural and functional perspectives, with an emphasis on their similarities and differences, as well as on the abiotic and biotic factors that govern the organization of the communities of organisms that inhabit them.
They should provide an overview of these ecosystems or hydrosystems and how they function at various scales.
The first part of the course is devoted entirely to theoretical instruction; the second part consists of introductory sessions for field trips, the field trips themselves, and laboratory sessions in which the data collected in the field are analyzed and discussed as a group.
Introduction to Molecular Ecology
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Molecular tools are an integral part of studies aimed at describing and characterizing biodiversity. The course will aim to introduce various molecular approaches (barcoding, metabarcoding, and environmental DNA, etc.) that enable (1) the description, characterization, and quantification of this diversity at the intra- or interspecific levels, as well as at the population and ecosystem levels, and (2) the presentation of their areas of application across different temporal and spatial scales. The course will incorporate practical components designed to introduce students to these techniques, help them implement them, analyze the resulting data, and report on their findings. Emphasis will be placed on group work in collaboration with researchers and faculty members.
Phylogeny of Mammals
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
One of the goals of this course unit is to synthesize concepts and knowledge acquired in animal biology (anatomy, systematics) and ecology to describe and understand the morphology and evolutionary changes in vertebrate morphology. In addition to covering extant groups, this course unit will focus heavily on extinct fossil groups, particularly their contribution to our understanding of the various eco-morphological adaptations (e.g., the acquisition or return to an aquatic lifestyle, the acquisition of flight) that have shaped the evolutionary history of clades.
This course unit also aims to provide theoretical and practical foundations in phylogenetics (cladistics) for tracing the evolution of a clade (using distance, parsimony, and likelihood methods), based on both molecular and phenotypic characters (both modern and fossil).
Adaptations to Parasitism
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Adaptations to a “parasitic” lifestyle are studied across all parasitic organisms (viruses, bacteria, eukaryotes), encompassing various scales of analysis “from molecules to populations.”
Thus, the coevolution between hosts and parasites will be examined from the perspective of host–parasite molecular and cellular interactions (immunity, evasion, exploitation of host resources, etc.), as well as the morpho-anatomical structures involved in adaptation to the sub-host site or in survival in the external environment, and finally from the perspective of behavioral adaptations for encountering the host (facilitation).
Tools and Methods for Reconstructing Paleoenvironments
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
ORPAL is an ecology course offered as an APP (1/3 fieldwork and 2/3 laboratory practicals). Drawing on concepts and methods from ecology, this course aims to introduce students to historical ecology (the study of interactions between humans and their environment over varying time periods) and its main applications in paleoecology, from defining the research question, field sampling, and data collection, all the way through to interpretation and the writing of a scientific paper (see https://biologie-ecologie.com/exemples-travaux/). This course serves as an interesting theoretical and experimental prerequisite for the ACCES, CEPAGE, PALEONTOLOGY, ECOSYSTEMS, or BIOGET tracks.
CHOICE 3
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
CHOICE 4
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Meteorology, Climatology, and the Water Cycle
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Spring
- difference between weather and climate
- atmospheric structure, radiation balance, greenhouse effect, wind circulation, low-pressure systems/high-pressure systems, tropical cyclones, tornadoes
- general ocean circulation (Munk, major currents, Conveyor Belt)
- Geographic distribution and classification of climates
- current climate change
- global water cycle, hydrologic balance, water balance, energy balance above a cultivated plot to estimate evapotranspiration
Meteorology/Climatology/Environment
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Number of hours
16,5h
Understanding the weather and knowing how to use the climate data as an ecologist or naturalist.
- methods for measuring climate, bioclimatic indices;
- Computer lab assignment: climate data, modern records (one century), oscillations, and trends;
- Weather overview, dominant conditions: from major biomes to local climate;
- average climate vs. extreme events, their roles and impacts on biodiversity;
- Group project (presentation): regional themes, shared oral presentation;
- Past and future climate change and its impacts on biodiversity.
Communication in Science
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
By the end of this course, students will have acquired the essential basic knowledge needed to properly prepare and carry out a science communication initiative tailored to a specific target audience, both orally and in writing. They will also be able to design educational materials and outreach workshops for the general public.
Development of the UniverlaCité Educational Program
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Universities are often perceived as inaccessible to a large segment of society. As part of the UniverlaCité initiative, which aims to bring the university experience to priority neighborhoods, students will develop science workshops designed for students in REP schools.
The EU will offer students the opportunity to:
1- share their own experiences and apply the knowledge they have acquired at the university in order to best meet the needs of society.
2- Identify and develop skills in science communication through the design and production of educational materials tailored to the target audience.
The course will consist of tutorials and project monitoring (SPS) on predefined topics. The sociocultural situation in vulnerable urban areas will be addressed during the first tutorial. This first tutorial will also serve to lay the groundwork for the course, provide a detailed overview of the UniverlaCité program, and offer a broad introduction to science communication.
The following tutorials will serve as sessions during which students, divided into groups, will be asked to propose activities to be implemented. The constraints provided by the teaching team will be: the target audience, the theme (which will be defined by the teaching team and updated each year), and the requirement to propose “off-campus” activities.
Health, the Environment, and Global Change
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Major human and animal health challenges related to global changes, namely:
- the degradation of natural environments, leading to a decline in the quality of natural resources (various forms of pollution) and a loss of biodiversity
- climate change
- the urbanization of living environments
- new treatment approaches
- the globalization of trade
- the standardization of lifestyles
Science and Society: History of Science, Ethics, Critical Thinking
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
In today’s societies, science lies at the heart of numerous ethical, economic, and societal issues. The goal of this course unit is to encourage students to reflect on their knowledge and practices through a historical approach to the development of scientific knowledge and through discussions on the bioethical aspects of science, the role of researchers in society, and the relationship between science and society. The goal is to raise students’ awareness of how scientific arguments are used in society, to engage in debates that bring together conflicting, well-supported viewpoints, and to develop their critical thinking skills. This course is therefore designed to broaden students’ perspectives, allowing them to take a step back and maintain a scientific approach—in other words, to “look up from the handlebars.”
- 7CM = 10.5 hours for the History of Science: A Panhistorical and Pangewographic Approach
- 4 class periods = 6 hours to introduce the concepts of bioethics and the critical approach that will be necessary for the discussions (methodology of controversy, complexity, issues at stake, appeals to authority)
- 2CM = 3 hours on the role of scientists in society (historical perspective and discussion of potential pitfalls)
- 2 TDs = 3 hours on cognitive biases, concepts in epistemology, linguistic pitfalls, the concept of evidence, and major types of fallacious reasoning
- 4 sessions of 2 tutorials each = 4 × 3 hours = 12 hours of discussion on topics at the heart of scientific and societal controversies: GMOs, vaccination, pharmacogenetics and genetic testing, endocrine disruptors, feeding the planet, demographic challenges, climate change, transhumanism, cloning and assisted reproduction, animal testing, neuroscience and marketing, biological control, nanotechnologies, ... Starting with a news article, students work in groups to produce a presentation (which counts toward their grade) aimed at providing historical context, presenting well-reasoned opposing viewpoints (based on ethical and scientific arguments), and then facilitating a debate. Each debate session (3 hours) will have a specific theme; researchers or faculty members will be invited to serve on the panel and provide a summary at the end.
Working in groups throughout the course, students will produce a literature review on a topic of their choice, presenting a well-structured argument illustrated with carefully selected examples, while situating the subject within the context of the history of science and incorporating bioethical considerations. The goal is not simply to trace the history of a subject, but rather to emphasize its connections to the advancement of scientific knowledge and the ethical questions it raises.
Communication in Science
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
By the end of this course, students will have acquired the essential basic knowledge needed to properly prepare and carry out a science communication initiative tailored to a specific target audience, both orally and in writing. They will also be able to design educational materials and outreach workshops for the general public.
Science and Society: History of Science, Ethics, and the Mind
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Spring
Development of the UniverlaCité Educational Program
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Universities are often perceived as inaccessible to a large segment of society. As part of the UniverlaCité initiative, which aims to bring the university experience to priority neighborhoods, students will develop science workshops designed for students in REP schools.
The EU will offer students the opportunity to:
1- share their own experiences and apply the knowledge they have acquired at the university in order to best meet the needs of society.
2- Identify and develop skills in science communication through the design and production of educational materials tailored to the target audience.
The course will consist of tutorials and project monitoring (SPS) on predefined topics. The sociocultural situation in vulnerable urban areas will be addressed during the first tutorial. This first tutorial will also serve to lay the groundwork for the course, provide a detailed overview of the UniverlaCité program, and offer a broad introduction to science communication.
The following tutorials will serve as sessions during which students, divided into groups, will be asked to propose activities to be implemented. The constraints provided by the teaching team will be: the target audience, the theme (which will be defined by the teaching team and updated each year), and the requirement to propose “off-campus” activities.
Health, the Environment, and Global Change
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Major human and animal health challenges related to global changes, namely:
- the degradation of natural environments, leading to a decline in the quality of natural resources (various forms of pollution) and a loss of biodiversity
- climate change
- the urbanization of living environments
- new treatment approaches
- the globalization of trade
- the standardization of lifestyles
Structural Biochemistry
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course provides an in-depth study of the structural biochemistry of biomolecules, particularly proteins and nucleic acids.
The basic concepts and terminology used in the analysis of 3D protein structures are briefly reviewed here (Ramachandran plot, structural motifs and domains, folding, family, superfamily, etc.). These concepts are supplemented by a study of the stability and dynamics of biomolecules.
The structural classification of proteins is described in detail based on the four main types of folding. Structure-function relationships are illustrated using examples of proteins. The specific characteristics of membrane protein structures (integral proteins, membrane-bound proteins) are discussed.
The main tools for modeling and predicting secondary and tertiary structures are presented.
The various structures and functions of nucleic acids are studied. Protein-nucleic acid complexes are described from a structural perspective (main recognition motifs, etc.), and the concepts of recognition specificity are explained in detail.
This course is supplemented by tutorials. These tutorials are designed to familiarize students with the main databases used in structural biology, as well as with the PyMol software for analyzing 3D structures.
Communication Skills and Scientific English
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course describes the methodology used by life sciences researchers to communicate the results of their experiments, both in writing and orally. Since English is the common language of international researchers, a large portion of this course is taught in English.
Written communication is addressed through an examination of the (macro) structure of a research article, as well as through an examination of the publication process in scientific journals. Several elements of written (micro) structure are examined in order to understand the differences between scientific English and literary English: clarity, cohesion, and coherence.
These courses are supplemented by a supervised project during the semester, in which students are required to analyze a research article recently published in the scientific literature and present it as an oral presentation (lecture) in English.
English S5
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Molecular Biology
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
5 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Molecular biology is not only a fascinating field of study in its own right, but it also provides other branches of biology (cell biology, genetics, physiology, etc.) with fantastic tools for modifying and quantifying genes and their products.
The EU is deepening our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the organization, maintenance, replication, and expression (transcription, post-transcriptional modifications, translation) of eukaryotic genomes.
In particular, we will explore the properties of information-carrying macromolecules (DNA, RNA, proteins) and how the interactions between them account for the functioning of eukaryotic cells and their adaptation to the environment and to the development of organisms.
At the same time, the main techniques used to monitor or modify gene expression—or to study the mechanisms underlying gene expression—will be covered in lectures and explored in greater depth in tutorials through the analysis of results.
Thus, the tutorials address these topics through (1) exercises that allow students to assess their understanding of the concepts described above, and (2) experiments drawn from scientific articles for analysis. In this way, students will acquire and/or deepen their understanding of the fundamentals of scientific reasoning and the critical analysis of results.
Functional Genetics
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
5 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Functional genetics aims to better understand the relationships between genotype and phenotype. This course covers various aspects of analyzing gene and genome function at the whole-genome level using in vivo approaches, as well as transcriptional regulation and the regulation of gene expression in eukaryotic genomes. The course is illustrated with concrete examples from developmental genetics in both physiological and pathological contexts.
Integrated Cellular Metabolism
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
5 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course unit enables students to deepen their understanding of metabolism. It provides a comprehensive overview of human metabolism. It will emphasize the connections between various metabolic pathways. It will also demonstrate how different tissues communicate with one another to maintain overall energy homeostasis. Disruptions in this metabolic process that lead to certain diseases will be discussed.
Advanced Cell Biology 1: Experimental Approaches
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
5 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course unit for the “Molecular and Cellular Biology” track aims to deepen and supplement—primarily through tutorial and lab sessions—the fundamental molecular and cellular processes covered in the BCM2, BCM3, and Advanced Molecular and Cellular Biology courses by exploring them in greater depth. These sessions will focus on the topics of intracellular trafficking, the cell cycle, and apoptosis, building on the material covered in the BCM3 course.
A group project will be conducted during the tutorial session, during which students will analyze a scientific article and write a structured summary that outlines the context of the study, the specific scientific question posed by the authors, the strategies employed, and the techniques used to address it. The purpose of this project is to help prepare students for writing their final-year project and internship reports in the Master’s program.
Tutorials and lab sessions will be conducted in an integrated manner, covering the same topics as those addressed in lectures. Tutorials will be directly linked to lab sessions. Students will be required to pose a question related to a cellular mechanism and, following the scientific method, propose an experimental strategy to answer it. The lab sessions will allow students to apply this strategy by incorporating techniques from biochemistry, molecular biology, and cell biology, such as immunoblotting, cell culture, immunolabeling, and fluorescence microscopy. The results obtained will be analyzed using image analysis techniques and bioinformatics.
Developmental Biology
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This required course for S6 explores the fundamental processes of embryonic development.
The course will cover all the major stages of embryogenesis, such as the establishment of axes, gastrulation, neurulation, and organogenesis, as well as basic concepts: induction, determination, differentiation, morphogenesis, etc.
The course will focus on a molecular and cellular interpretation of developmental processes, as well as on the importance of an evolutionary approach to embryogenesis.
The course will therefore consistently draw connections between its various disciplines, as well as with the material covered in genetics courses.
The lectures will present the main principles by focusing on the two best-understood models of development in vertebrates (amphibians) and invertebrates (flies), while also including a historical perspective; the seminars, meanwhile, will be devoted to evolutionary aspects (comparison of different modes of development and understanding the logic of evolutionary constraints), as well as on experimental approaches in modern molecular and cellular developmental biology.
Molecular Biology Lab Sessions
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
6 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Spring
The molecular biology practical training course aims to enable students to work independently on a molecular biology protocol and to introduce them to hypothesis-driven research. Students will have six days to address a biological problem that will be presented to them. This will allow them to apply, under laboratory conditions, some of the techniques covered in their theoretical coursework, thereby gaining a better understanding of them.
Molecular Engineering
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Spring
As part of this course unit, students will learn the experimental principles involved in working with nucleic acids. The lectures will focus on two main areas:
- Development of molecular tools (cloning, nucleic acid analysis, vectorology) ii. Their applications (recombinant protein expression, genomic banking, transgenesis, the CRISPR/Cas9 system, etc.) and reflection on ethical issues in biology.
The tutorials will consist of:
- Analysis of articles presenting problems to be solved using the knowledge gained in the course. The chosen topics will, as much as possible, relate to parallel course units in the third year of the bachelor’s program. Students will present these articles in the form of oral presentations, in groups of 3 to 4 students, to the entire class.
- Sessions dedicated to using basic bioinformatics tools in the computer lab.
Advanced Cell Biology 2: Key Concepts
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
5 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course unit, offered in both lecture and tutorial formats, aims to build upon the concepts of cell biology covered in the second year in BCM2 and BCM3 through the study of physiological and pathological conditions, such as cancer.
These courses will introduce students to the importance of selecting a model system (cell lines or organisms for in vivo study, such as Drosophila, C. elegans, and zebrafish) that is suitable for addressing a specific research question and elucidating a molecular mechanism.
The lab sessions will provide students with hands-on experience with advanced concepts in cell biology, in conjunction with knowledge of the most commonly used methodologies in the field—such as flow cytometry, advanced fluorescence microscopy and electron microscopy techniques, and proteomics—as well as familiarity with experimental models such as cultured cells and animal models, both genetically modified and non-genetically modified (C. elegans, zebrafish, transgenic mice, knockout (KO) and knock-in (KI) mice, etc.)
Genetics & Epigenetics
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Spring
Starting from the same genome, the various cells that make up a multicellular organism will follow different cellular fates in order to acquire distinct cellular functions. In addition to the genome, epigenetic regulations governing the control of genomic expression will be crucial in establishing phenotypes. The objective of this course is to convey the concepts and methodologies used to study the transmission of hereditary information via so-called epigenetic mechanisms.
Project or Internship
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The structure of this course is specifically tailored to the various tracks within the L3 program. Nevertheless, the objectives are the same: to give students an overview of the professional world related to life sciences research.
Students will be offered a short internship in a laboratory or company, or a supervised project with a mentor working in a laboratory or company related to biology.
Virology
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Spring
The EU aims to advance knowledge in fundamental and applied virology, with an emphasis on an integrative approach to the discipline. It will present the specific characteristics of host-virus interactions and the pathophysiology of viral infections in different types of hosts (vertebrates, insects, and plants). It will address aspects of viral ecology, virus emergence, and associated risks to human and animal health. Finally, the course will cover research methods, virological detection and diagnostic tools, and the applications of viruses in biotechnology.
The course will consist of lectures, tutorials (analysis of current scientific articles and oral presentations), and practical exercises that illustrate the material covered in the lectures and tutorials (virus amplification and purification, and quantification using standard techniques).
A Practical Approach to Bacterial Biodiversity
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
6 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This laboratory session is designed to help students apply their knowledge of microbiology and molecular biology to identify bacteria in the environment.
Quantitative and qualitative analysis of the bacterial population present in a soil sample is typically performed by identifying species using conventional bacteriological methods in successive steps: 1) isolation of the bacterial flora; 2) identification of the family and genus using conventional media and tests; 3) identification of the species using API System galleries.
Molecular biology techniques now make it possible to identify the bacteria present in a sample without the need for culture. This approach requires access to a sequencing platform and will also be carried out during lab sessions, which will allow for a comparison of the two approaches. The sequencing results obtained will enable a bioinformatics analysis of the rrsA gene encoding the 16S rRNA of the isolated bacteria.
Communication Skills and Scientific English
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course describes the methodology used by life sciences researchers to communicate the results of their experiments, both in writing and orally. Since English is the common language of international researchers, a large portion of this course is taught in English.
Written communication is addressed through an examination of the (macro) structure of a research article, as well as through an examination of the publication process in scientific journals. Several elements of written (micro) structure are examined in order to understand the differences between scientific English and literary English: clarity, cohesion, and coherence.
These courses are supplemented by a supervised project during the semester, in which students are required to analyze a research article recently published in the scientific literature and present it as an oral presentation (lecture) in English.
Immunology (from the immune response to infections to autoimmune diseases)
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course unit serves as a logical continuation of the S4 course unit (Fundamentals of Physiology and Immunology) and aims to deepen students’ knowledge of basic, applied, and clinical immunology. We will also explore “non-conventional” concepts in immunology and discuss innovative immunotherapy strategies. This course will cover all topics related to modern immunology and will have a strong focus on the clinical aspects of this discipline.
Keywords
Basic Immunology, Anti-infectious Immunity, Immunotherapy, Vaccination, Autoimmunity, Immunodeficiencies, Anti-cancer Immunity, Non-conventional Immunity
English S5
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Molecular Biology
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
5 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Molecular biology is not only a fascinating field of study in its own right, but it also provides other branches of biology (cell biology, genetics, physiology, etc.) with fantastic tools for modifying and quantifying genes and their products.
The EU is deepening our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the organization, maintenance, replication, and expression (transcription, post-transcriptional modifications, translation) of eukaryotic genomes.
In particular, we will explore the properties of information-carrying macromolecules (DNA, RNA, proteins) and how the interactions between them account for the functioning of eukaryotic cells and their adaptation to the environment and to the development of organisms.
At the same time, the main techniques used to monitor or modify gene expression—or to study the mechanisms underlying gene expression—will be covered in lectures and explored in greater depth in tutorials through the analysis of results.
Thus, the tutorials address these topics through (1) exercises that allow students to assess their understanding of the concepts described above, and (2) experiments drawn from scientific articles for analysis. In this way, students will acquire and/or deepen their understanding of the fundamentals of scientific reasoning and the critical analysis of results.
Biotechnology S5
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course covers the various categories of biotechnology according to their fields of application:
- Plant biotechnology relates to the agri-food sector and encompasses a range of technologies that use plant organisms and their cells to produce and process food products, biomaterials, and energy, as well as recombinant proteins for therapeutic purposes.
- Animal biotechnology encompasses the fields of health, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and tissue engineering, as well as the development of genetic or molecular processes for therapeutic purposes.
- Microbial biotechnology involves the use of microorganisms (viruses or bacteria) and their cultivation in the food and pharmaceutical industries, as well as their role in environmental protection.
The curriculum for students in the third year of the Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences is designed to enable them to discover or deepen their theoretical knowledge of various biotechnologies and to master the associated tools and applications.
Microbiology 3
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
5 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course unit is designed to deepen students' knowledge of microbiology for those who wish to continue their studies in this field.
It will cover molecular genetics as applied to prokaryotes (mobile genetic elements and resistance, CRISPR, the two-component system, quorum sensing, horizontal gene transfer, etc.) and the specific characteristics of bacterial metabolism.
Bacteria with distinctive morphologies will be presented.
In virology, the pathophysiology of viral infections, as well as the prevention and control of viral diseases, will be presented. The mechanisms by which viruses evade the immune system will be discussed in detail. The mechanisms of viral evolution will be described and linked to viral emergence.
The parasitic lifestyle of certain eukaryotic microorganisms will be illustrated by describing their obligate intracellular development and the changes in the host cell induced by these parasites.
The EU will finally address the concept of the microbiome and present the latest data on the nature of the human microbiome and its role in health.
Infection & Immunity
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Spring
Bacteriology:
Through various examples, students will gain a better understanding of the concept of pathogenicity in relation to bacterial virulence. The methods and mechanisms used to manipulate the body’s cells at the mucosal level in order to penetrate the internal environment—that is, invasive potential—will be discussed, as well as the perception of environmental signals and the integration of these signals to coordinate the response of prokaryotes so that they exhibit collective behavior. A description of several examples of toxins and modulins associated with colonization and/or invasion will provide a better understanding of the differences in strategies among prokaryotic pathogens. Finally, we will address the concept of the microbiota and its influence on the body’s functioning, as well as its role in the development of certain diseases.
Immunology:
The Immunology section provides an overview of how the immune system functions during infection. From the initiation and progression of the inflammatory response upon the recognition of non-self signals by the innate immune system (PRR-PAMP) to the mechanisms of cell activation and the resulting cellular responses, we can appreciate the diversity of possibilities offered by the various components of the immune system. Furthermore, the sequence of events leading to the direction of the immune response and the acquisition of lasting protection during the adaptive phase will provide a better understanding of vaccine strategy. Finally, intestinal mucosal immunity will be discussed in the context of the relationship between the host and the microbiota.
History of Biology and Bioethics
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The main goal of this module will be to provide a better understanding of the major concepts of modern biology through the history of their development. In other words, to analyze the intellectual journey as well as the experimental and theoretical approaches that led to their formulation. For example, we will analyze how the search for a “natural” classification led Jean-Baptiste Monet de Lamarck and Charles Darwin to lay the foundations of evolutionary biology, or how Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire’s concept of the “unit of organizational plan” gave rise to evolutionary paleontology, developmental biology, and evolution and development (Evo/Devo).
In the context of bioethical issues, we will address problems such as the misuse of a concept (from craniology to eugenics) as well as the cases of “Georges Cuvier” and “Trophim Lysenko,” in which religious or political ideology interferes with science.
Finally, the philosophy of biology will lead us to discuss the value of models in biology and the “end of the ‘all-genetic’ paradigm” (from Lamarck to epigenetics, via epigenesis).
The entire module will consist of lectures, during which several seminal texts in modern biology will also be analyzed and discussed.
Molecular Biology Lab Sessions
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
6 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Spring
The molecular biology practical training course aims to enable students to work independently on a molecular biology protocol and to introduce them to hypothesis-driven research. Students will have six days to address a biological problem that will be presented to them. This will allow them to apply, under laboratory conditions, some of the techniques covered in their theoretical coursework, thereby gaining a better understanding of them.
Microbial Ecology
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The course will cover the fundamentals and principles of microbial ecology (microbial biodiversity; cultivable and non-cultivable microorganisms; major microbial groups, key microbial functions and biogeochemical cycles, microbial metabolism in the environment and environmental applications, and the fundamentals of ecology as they apply to microorganisms (microbial interactions, free-living organisms, competition, collaboration, symbiosis, parasitism, and their applications). The following topics will be specifically addressed as examples:
- Viruses: the concepts of emergence and re-emergence
-Vibrios: virulence factors, adaptation to the host, and horizontal transfer
-streptococci, comparative genomics, genomic reduction, specialization
Applications of microbial ecology to biotechnology will include: detection, production of inocula, bioproductions, bioremediation, and water treatment, using concrete examples (development of multipathogen detection tools that account for mutation; production of a flavor enhancer by a soil corynebacterium; applications of microbial interaction studies to the selection of cheese flavors; a quality index for vineyard soil, etc.)
Practical Course: Water Analysis—Principles, Standards, and Applications: 6 hours total
Tutorial/independent work based on the results of the lab: design of a water treatment model for a real-world scenario (cadastral data, topographic survey, total fecal coliform and streptococcal load from the lab, student presentations on the various types of (micro) wastewater treatment plants, etc.) The goal is to propose a conceptual solution tailored to the specific site conditions.
Molecular Engineering
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Spring
As part of this course unit, students will learn the experimental principles involved in working with nucleic acids. The lectures will focus on two main areas:
- Development of molecular tools (cloning, nucleic acid analysis, vectorology) ii. Their applications (recombinant protein expression, genomic banking, transgenesis, the CRISPR/Cas9 system, etc.) and reflection on ethical issues in biology.
The tutorials will consist of:
- Analysis of articles presenting problems to be solved using the knowledge gained in the course. The chosen topics will, as much as possible, relate to parallel course units in the third year of the bachelor’s program. Students will present these articles in the form of oral presentations, in groups of 3 to 4 students, to the entire class.
- Sessions dedicated to using basic bioinformatics tools in the computer lab.
Microbiology of Eukaryotes
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course aims to deepen students’ understanding of eukaryotic microorganisms and, in particular, to explore the diversity of free-living and parasitic eukaryotic unicellular organisms. This diversity will be studied from both theoretical and practical perspectives. Specifically, the unique developmental characteristics and lifestyles of four unicellular microorganisms—the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum, the ciliate Tetrahymena, and the apicomplexan parasites Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium falciparum—will be examined during laboratory sessions, thereby illustrating concepts covered in lectures and tutorials.
Project or Internship
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The structure of this course is specifically tailored to the various tracks within the L3 program. Nevertheless, the objectives are the same: to give students an overview of the professional world related to life sciences research.
Students will be offered a short internship in a laboratory or company, or a supervised project with a mentor working in a laboratory or company related to biology.
Virology
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Spring
The EU aims to advance knowledge in fundamental and applied virology, with an emphasis on an integrative approach to the discipline. It will present the specific characteristics of host-virus interactions and the pathophysiology of viral infections in different types of hosts (vertebrates, insects, and plants). It will address aspects of viral ecology, virus emergence, and associated risks to human and animal health. Finally, the course will cover research methods, virological detection and diagnostic tools, and the applications of viruses in biotechnology.
The course will consist of lectures, tutorials (analysis of current scientific articles and oral presentations), and practical exercises that illustrate the material covered in the lectures and tutorials (virus amplification and purification, and quantification using standard techniques).
Communication Skills and Scientific English
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course describes the methodology used by life sciences researchers to communicate the results of their experiments, both in writing and orally. Since English is the common language of international researchers, a large portion of this course is taught in English.
Written communication is addressed through an examination of the (macro) structure of a research article, as well as through an examination of the publication process in scientific journals. Several elements of written (micro) structure are examined in order to understand the differences between scientific English and literary English: clarity, cohesion, and coherence.
These courses are supplemented by a supervised project during the semester, in which students are required to analyze a research article recently published in the scientific literature and present it as an oral presentation (lecture) in English.
Animal Physiology Lab Sessions
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Through hands-on laboratory sessions, students will study various physiological regulatory mechanisms in animals.
Mastery of surgical techniques in rats to determine blood volume, osmotic diuresis and renal permeability, the effects of epinephrine and insulin on blood glucose levels, inulin clearance, and the mechanisms of glucose transport across the intestinal wall.
Study of the mechanical and electrical functioning of the frog's heart.
Learning all the elements necessary to successfully carry out the required lab protocol in order to obtain results and write a lab report.
Immunology (from the immune response to infections to autoimmune diseases)
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course unit serves as a logical continuation of the S4 course unit (Fundamentals of Physiology and Immunology) and aims to deepen students’ knowledge of basic, applied, and clinical immunology. We will also explore “non-conventional” concepts in immunology and discuss innovative immunotherapy strategies. This course will cover all topics related to modern immunology and will have a strong focus on the clinical aspects of this discipline.
Keywords
Basic Immunology, Anti-infectious Immunity, Immunotherapy, Vaccination, Autoimmunity, Immunodeficiencies, Anti-cancer Immunity, Non-conventional Immunity
Physiology of Smell and Taste
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Study of the primary and secondary olfactory systems:
The primary olfactory system: stimuli, receptor structures, mechanisms of transduction and encoding of olfactory information, and associated olfactory pathways.
The secondary olfactory system: stimuli, receptor structures, mechanisms of transduction and encoding of olfactory information, and associated olfactory pathways.
Study of the taste system:
The taste system: stimuli, receptor structures, transduction mechanisms, and associated taste pathways.
Olfaction and Cognition:
Study of the effects of odors on behavior; factors influencing the quality of the olfactory sensation; the characteristic dimensions of odors; the behavioral classification of odors. Olfaction and cognition: odor memory, mother-child olfactory bonding.
Taste and Eating Behavior :
Taste-facial reflex; food preferences and aversions.
English S5
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Integrated Neurobiology and Cognition
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The objective of this course unit is to provide an integrated approach to the functioning of the nervous system, drawing on several disciplines within the neurosciences (neurodevelopment, functional neuroanatomy, neuroimaging, and cognitive neuroscience) and focusing on complex brain functions.
Neurobiology and Cellular Neurophysiology
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The objective of this course unit is the morpho-functional study of cells in the nervous system (neurons, glial cells), specifically: a description of the mechanisms involved in neuronal excitability (generation and propagation of the action potential) and neurotransmission (mechanisms of neurotransmitter release and synthesis, and the structure and function of neurotransmitter receptors). The concepts of synaptic plasticity are also explored.
Cardiac Physiology
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The cardiovascular physiology course aims to describe and provide knowledge about the functioning of the cardiovascular system, from the whole animal down to the cellular and molecular levels. Topics to be studied include cardiac contraction, the regulation of cardiac electrical activity (electrocardiogram and ion channels), the regulation of blood pressure and the baroreflex, and the regulation of cardiovascular functions by the autonomic nervous system.
Cell Communication and Pharmacology
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The mechanism of action of drugs is based on an interaction with a target cellular structure in the body, leading to the modulation of its function. Thus, this course unit consists of two main components. Thefirst component aims to familiarize students with the various modes of cellular communication, the different chemical messengers, their targets, and their modes of action. The second component will aim to provide students with a basic understanding of pharmacology, specifically how drugs work and their fate within the body. To this end, the concepts of pharmacodynamics (ligand-receptor interaction, dose-response relationship) and pharmacokinetics (ADME: absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) will be covered. In addition, drug targets, their intracellular signaling, and their therapeutic indications will be discussed.
Neuropathology
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The EU course provides an introduction to the key issues surrounding the major diseases affecting the nervous system, whether neurological or psychiatric. These conditions are addressed from a multidisciplinary perspective, ranging from the molecular level to symptoms. This foundational knowledge of neuropathology will serve as a basis for the research areas covered later in the master’s program.
Muscular and Cardiac Disorders
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
5 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The course on Muscular and Cardiac Disorders builds on the knowledge gained in the previous semester on cardiovascular physiology to explore the molecular and cellular mechanisms that lead to cardiac disorders (various arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation, heart failure, etc.) and muscular disorders (myopathies, etc.).
Physiology and Pathology of Nutrition
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The goal of this course unit is to acquire scientific knowledge and skills in the field of nutrition, specifically as they relate to diseases.
Nutrition is defined as the science that analyzes the relationship between food and health. The links between nutrition and health are becoming increasingly well understood, and the risk of developing many diseases—such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes—can be reduced by following national dietary guidelines.
Based on numerous scientific studies, these recommendations evolve as new knowledge emerges. It is still difficult to describe the biological mechanisms that explain the complex effects of nutrition on health.
Numerous epidemiological studies have shown that an adequate, balanced, and varied diet is essential for growth, maintaining immunity, fertility, and healthy aging (cognitive function, maintaining muscle mass, and fighting off infections).
Sensory Neurophysiology and Motor Function
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The course on Sensory and Motor Neurophysiology offered in the EU covers, on the one hand, the anatomical and functional organization of the major sensory systems—vision, hearing, and somatosensation. On the other hand, it addresses motor function and its central control at the spinal and supraspinal levels: the brainstem, motor cortex, cerebellum, and basal ganglia.
Endocrine Physiology
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
5 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The objective of this course unit is to provide students with fundamental and in-depth knowledge and skills regarding the physiology of the endocrine system. By studying the morphological and functional organization of the endocrine system, students will gain an understanding of the various hormonal systems (endocrine glands, hypothalamic-pituitary axis, reproductive system) and their essential roles in carrying out major physiological functions and maintaining homeostasis.
Project or Internship
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The structure of this course is specifically tailored to the various tracks within the L3 program. Nevertheless, the objectives are the same: to give students an overview of the professional world related to life sciences research.
Students will be offered a short internship in a laboratory or company, or a supervised project with a mentor working in a laboratory or company related to biology.
General Knowledge APP
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Environmental Methodology
ECTS
10 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Methodology in Biology: Mechanisms of Life
ECTS
10 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Specialization 1 in Environmental Studies
ECTS
14 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Specialization 1 in Biology: Mechanisms of Life
ECTS
14 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
SV APP Professional Development
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
English S5 in APP
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
APP Multidisciplinary Project
ECTS
6 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
English S6 in APP
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Specialization II in Environmental Studies
ECTS
6 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Environmental Internship/Project
ECTS
16 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Internship/Project in Biology: Mechanisms of Life
ECTS
16 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Specialization II in Biology: Mechanisms of Life
ECTS
6 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Coherent Grouping 1, Semester 5
ECTS
20 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Biomaterials and Polymers in Healthcare
ECTS
5 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Biomaterials and Polymers in Healthcare: Written Course
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Biomaterials and Polymers in Healthcare: Lab Session
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Instrumental Techniques for the Analysis of Pharmaceutical Substances
ECTS
5 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Instrumental Techniques for the Analysis of Pharmaceutical Substances EC
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Instrumental Techniques for the Analysis of Pharmaceutical Substances + Written Assignments
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Therapeutic Chemistry - Synthesis of TC Peptides
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Therapeutic Chemistry—Written Exam/CC
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Therapeutic Chemistry (Written Exam)
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Pharmacology - Pharmacokinetics - Toxicology
ECTS
5 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Pharmacology (Written Exam)
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Pharmacology (Written/Oral)
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Coherent Grouping 2: Cross-Curricular Language Unit, Week 5
ECTS
10 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Communication Techniques - PEC
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Communication Techniques - PEC
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Technical and Regulatory Environment of the Healthcare Industry - Scientific Documentation
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Technical and Regulatory Environment for Industries
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Modern Languages, Semes. 5
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Modern Languages, Semester 5
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Modern Languages II: Spanish
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Modern Languages II: German
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Modern Languages II: Another Language
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Internship
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Coherent Grouping of 3 Science Courses, Semester 6
ECTS
21.5 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Compounding Pharmacy
ECTS
5 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Galenic Pharmacy Written Exam (Multiple-Choice Questions + Graded Lab Work)
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Galenic Pharmacy: Written
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Surface Phenomena
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Surface Phenomena: Lab Report and Oral Presentation
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Surface Phenomena: Written
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Environmental Engineering - Radiobiology - Nutrition
ECTS
5 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Healthy Nutrition: Written
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Healthy Nutrition: Written/Oral
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Environmental Engineering—Introduction to Radiobiology—Nutrition and Health
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Environmental Engineering—Radiation Biology Written
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Environmental Engineering—Radiobiology—Nutrition. Written/Oral
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Biological and Cellular Engineering
ECTS
5 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Biological and Cellular Engineering Lab, Participation/Attitude Grade
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Biological and Cellular Engineering—Written Exam
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Methods for the Statistical Analysis of Pharmaceutical Data
ECTS
3.5 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Methods for the Statistical Analysis of Pharmaceutical Data. Quiz
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Methods for the Statistical Analysis of Pharmaceutical Data. Written
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Coherent Grouping 4: Cross-Curricular Language Units, Week 6
ECTS
6.5 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Quality Management—Marketing—Statistical Quality Control
ECTS
2.5 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Marketing, Management, Quality Control, Statistics, Writing
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Quality Management—Statistical Quality Control Tutorial
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Living Lenses, Semester 6
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Living Textbooks: Semester 6 Selection
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Modern Languages II: Another Language
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Modern Languages II: Spanish
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Modern Languages II: German
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
School of Pharmacy
Recombinant Protein Expression Systems
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
6 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
In the field of healthcare biotechnology, recombinant proteins can be produced in various cell types—known as expression systems—which may be prokaryotic or eukaryotic. This is a mature and attractive technological field with strong employment prospects. Indeed, the bioproduction of biopharmaceuticals (proteins, monoclonal antibodies) represents a major challenge in human therapeutics. Before designing any biologic drug that involves a bioproduction step, it is essential to understand the various eukaryotic and prokaryotic expression systems used in biotechnology.
This course unit includes interactive lectures, presentations by professionals, and hands-on exercises during which students will apply the knowledge gained in class: cell culture, monitoring of the production clone, recombinant protein production in a eukaryotic system, and production monitoring.
English
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
English tutorial for students in the “L3 Bioproduction and Biotechnology for Health” program, designed to help them achieve professional proficiency in English.
Molecular Engineering and Construction of Producer Clones
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
6 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The main objective of this course unit is to enable students to acquire theoretical and practical knowledge in molecular engineering. Specifically, students will learn how to integrate a gene encoding a molecule of interest and express that molecule in a suitable organism. This corresponds to the preparation stage of bioproduction.
In order to produce a molecule of interest, it is necessary to first understand the molecular mechanisms and tools underlying a modified organism (prokaryote and/or eukaryote). The course will cover knowledge of the enzymes involved in genetic modification and the verification and validation of this modification through vectorization. Extraction, purification, and expression methods will be covered in laboratory sessions. In addition, a comprehensive overview of the significance of molecular engineering in the field of health will be presented.
Quality Management and Data Analysis
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
6 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course unit incorporates instruction that spans several disciplinary fields and addresses the various methodological approaches used in the industrial bioproduction of a biopharmaceutical.
Biopharmaceuticals are health products that must meet strictly regulated health control standards for production facilities and final product quality control. To optimize production time and costs, statistical and mathematical methods are used to model bioprocesses.
The objectives of this learning unit are therefore to present:
- The development cycle of a biopharmaceutical and the good manufacturing practices required by regulations
- Good laboratory practices necessary to ensure sanitary and safe control of production areas, as well as to ensure the traceability and integrity of experimental data
- Quality control of biopharmaceuticals
- Biostatistical methods and statistical analysis tools (software) for data from experiments
- Bioinformatics (databases, OMICS, big data processing, etc.) for the characterization of a biopharmaceutical
- Modeling bioprocesses using the design of experiments method to optimize the production of biopharmaceuticals
Knowledge of Biopharmaceuticals
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Immunotechnologies
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Immunotechnology is a field of biotechnology that applies knowledge of basic immunology to develop technological methods for therapeutic, diagnostic, or analytical purposes. This course unit will help students understand that immunotechnology can be used at various stages of the biomanufacturing process for a biopharmaceutical, from the research and development stage through to quality control.
USP (upstream process)
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
8 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course unit (UE) is part of Skill Block 2 of the Bio²S Bachelor’s program (L3), titled “Preparing, Designing, and Conducting a Bioproduction Process.”
USP (Upstream Processing) refers to the “upstream” processes in the production chain of a biopharmaceutical. These processes involve the production of cells (cell therapy) and products (proteins, vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, etc.) in bioreactors.
The program focuses on:
1/ Knowledge of equipment: bioreactors ranging from laboratory scale to pilot or industrial scale, both traditional and single-use systems, and their immediate environment (sensors, etc.)
2/ Management of bioproduction processes.
Students will gain theoretical and practical knowledge of the structure and function of a bioreactor and how to prepare it for a culture.
Following a presentation on a standard bioreactor (a mechanically agitated and aerated tank), the various scales and the concept of scale-up will be discussed, along with other types of bioreactors (bubble column, airlift, etc.).
Next, all the preparatory steps prior to culture setup will be described and carried out both in the form of tTDs and during hands-on lab sessions on the Bioproduction educational platform. This section will cover: the preparation of culture media and the adjustment of their composition; the assembly, verification, and calibration of the probes and the bioreactor; sterilization; the setup of an aseptic sampling system; and the preparation of the inoculum (cell banks will be covered in UE 1.3—Recombinant Protein Expression Systems).
Next, the focus will be on "How to cultivate and implement a culture in a bioreactor."
In this section, the following topics will be covered:
- Indicators for monitoring biological reactions, as well as monitoring (offline, near-line, and online techniques) and culture control. The program includes: control loops, an introduction to Process Analytical Technology (PAT), and its integration with quality management (e.g., implementation of monitoring indicators, control charts, etc.).
- Management of industrial production constraints (particularly limitations caused by transport phenomena such as heat and gas (O2))
- The different operating modes (batch, fed-batch, continuous): Following a general overview of the different modes, the course provides an in-depth look at each one. The goal is for students to engage in an engineering approach to developing viable technical solutions so that they will be able to:
o Analyze experimental results
o Use a production planning (simulation) tool at the industrial scale (or conduct experiments at the lab-pilot scale)
o To anticipate the various possible scenarios for feed management in fed-batch and continuous-flow processes
o To perform cultures during lab sessions on the Bioproduction educational platform
This learning unit is based on three cross-cutting projects spanning competency blocks 1 (Applying Key Theories and Concepts to Bioproduction), 2 (Preparing, Designing, and Implementing a Bioproduction Process), and 3 (Communicating About One’s Work), namely:
Project A: Production and purification of a monoclonal antibody using hybridoma cells (laboratory scale—screening). Cell culture (preparation of media, cell counting, and cell culture) will be performed after the producer clone has been verified (Work Package 1.3).
Project B: Production of a fluorescent recombinant fusion protein in a prokaryotic host using batch-mode bioreactors (laboratory scale). Culture setup and monitoring will be performed after the construction of the producer strains and their small-scale characterization (Module 1.2). In addition to conducting the culture and analyzing the results obtained, the objective of this lab is to master the preparation of a bioreactor (assembly, calibration, sterilization, etc.). This lab is also linked to Unit 2.1 for the design of the experimental plan and to Unit 3.1 for the preparation of reporting documents.
Project C: Production and purification of a fusion protein used as a veterinary vaccine in a prokaryotic host using fed-batch bioreactors (pilot scale). Preparation of the fermenter and initiation of fed-batch culture using anE. coli strain from a cell bank. Monitoring of the culture (online and offline parameters) and recovery of the biomass, calculation of yields. The complete DSP will be carried out in Unit 2.3. Batch records and production reports will be prepared in conjunction with Units 2.1 and 3.1.
The educational module on bioproduction:
USP:
- Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell culture (Type II PSM, incubators)
- 4 instrumented benchtop bioreactors (2 to 5 L usable volume)
- 1 instrumented pilot-scale bioreactor (20 L usable volume)
DSP:
- Juicer
- High-pressure homogenizer (Emulsiflex, Avestin)
- AKTAPure + GSTPrep preparative affinity column
- Instrumented pilot-scale freeze-dryer
Choice: Work-Study Program / Long-Term Internship
ECTS
20 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Long-Term Internship
ECTS
20 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Work-Study Program
ECTS
20 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
DSP (downstream process)
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
4 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course unit (UE) is part of Skill Block 2 of the Bio²S Bachelor’s program (L3), titled “Preparing, Designing, and Conducting a Bioproduction Process.”
DSP (Downstream Processing) processes are the so-called downstream processes in the production chain of a biopharmaceutical. They involve the extraction and purification of the target molecule (recombinant protein or monoclonal antibody derived from a hybridoma). In this course unit, the aspects of distribution and packaging, as well as the related controls, will also be covered.
The program focuses on:
1) Knowledge of equipment (cell lysis, chromatography, filtration, freeze-drying, etc.)
2) Process management and quality control for the production of recombinant proteins
Students will gain theoretical and practical knowledge of how cell lysis, chromatography, and fractionation/packaging equipment works. They will be able to select the appropriate equipment and processes based on the characteristics of the target protein.
First, students will study the physicochemical properties of the target protein using simple sequence analysis tools. Based on this data and the protein’s intended use, the students will propose a purification strategy (lab).
These elements will be applied in the practical portion of the course, during which students will purify the target protein while performing a series of in-process sampling and quality control checks to ensure traceability and the final quality of the product.
Next, students will need to evaluate the performance of the process and the quality of both the active ingredient and the finished product by proposing an analytical approach appropriate for therapeutic proteins. They will thus need to determine production yields, purity levels, and the nature of impurities, and confirm the identity of the target protein (TD).
This learning unit is based on two cross-cutting projects covering skill sets 1 (Applying Key Theories and Concepts to Bioproduction), 2 (Preparing, Designing, and Conducting a Bioproduction Process), and 3 (Communicating About One’s Work), namely:
Project A: Production and purification of a monoclonal antibody using hybridoma cells (laboratory scale—screening). Purification, titration, and testing of the antibody will be performed following cell culture (UE2.2) and testing of the producing clone (UE 1.3).
Project C: Production and purification of a fusion protein used as a veterinary vaccine in a prokaryotic host in fed-batch bioreactors (pilot scale). Following the USP practical session (UE.2.2), the resulting biomass is weighed and then lysed (HHP). Emphasis is placed on monitoring critical parameters (viscosity, pressure, concentration, etc.), the efficiency of the chosen process (yield, purity), and the storage conditions for the produced protein (stability, sterility, etc.). All results, analyzed critically, may be presented in the form of a batch production report.
The educational module on bioproduction:
USP:
- Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell culture (Type II PSM, incubators)
- 4 instrumented benchtop bioreactors (2 to 5 L usable volume)
- 1 instrumented pilot-scale bioreactor (20 L usable volume)
DSP:
- Juicer
- High-pressure homogenizer (Emulsiflex, Avestin)
- AKTAPure + GSTPrep preparative affinity column
- Instrumented pilot-scale freeze-dryer
- SDS-PAGE and Western blot, UV spectroscopy, nanoDSF
Documentation and Activity Reports
Level of Education
Bachelor's degree (BAC +3)
ECTS
2 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
In biotechnology laboratories and companies, scientific, technical, and regulatory documentation is essential for project management, ensuring the reproducibility of experimental results, and complying with production standards for biological products. Knowing how to record, analyze, and communicate information related to the production of a biomolecule makes it possible to document every step of a bioproduction process and thereby ensure the quality, safety, and efficacy of biopharmaceutical products.
Through lectures and tutorials, this course unit will cover:
-Tools for conducting scientific and technological monitoring
-Writing techniques for drafting standard operating procedures (SOPs) and experimental protocols.
-Writing methods for preparing a detailed report on experimental results and data analysis (reporting/data communication).
Admission
Admission Requirements
Admission is open to students with a high school diploma or equivalent, or to those changing their academic focus. In all cases, applications must be submitted through the Parcoursup platform. The program’s enrollment capacity, excluding students repeating a year, is 680 students each year. The number of applications received through Parcoursup exceeds 5,000.
Applications for the second and third years of the bachelor's program are submitted through the following platforms:
- French and European students: Follow the application process on the University of Montpellier's e-candidat portal: https://candidature.umontpellier.fr/candidature/
- International students from outside the EU: Follow the “Études en France” procedure: https://pastel.diplomatie.gouv.fr/etudesenfrance/dyn/public/authentification/login.html
Target Audience
For admission to the second year of a bachelor's degree program, depending on the track:
Admission is available to students who have completed a first-year degree (L1) in the SVSE program at the Faculty of Sciences (FdS) of the University of Montpellier, or an equivalent first-year degree obtained outside the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Montpellier (or equivalent higher education: preparatory school, possibly a DUT, or even a BTS). For all applicants—whether from the SVSE L1 program, accredited preparatory programs (CPGE or PASS), or programs outside the Faculty of Sciences—the enrollment process is completed through the Faculty of Sciences’ e-candidat portal.
Admission is not automatic: it is decided on a case-by-case basis by an academic committee and depends on the enrollment capacity of the desired program. The SV bachelor’s degree program at the University of Montpellier is very popular and generally exceeds its enrollment capacity.
For admission to the third year of a bachelor's degree program, depending on the track:
Automatic enrollment is available for students who have completed a second-year bachelor’s degree (L2) in the natural sciences (SV) within the same academic track at the Faculty of Sciences (FdS) of the University of Montpellier; enrollment is also possible for students who have completed a second-year bachelor’s degree (L2) in fields related to the intended academic track outside the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Montpellier or an equivalent program in higher education. The enrollment process is completed through the Faculty of Sciences’ e-candidat portal.
Admission is not automatic: it is decided on a case-by-case basis by an academic committee and depends on the enrollment capacity of the desired program. The SV bachelor’s degree program at the University of Montpellier is very popular and generally far exceeds its enrollment capacity.
Capacity
160 students in the BE program
440 second-year students in the Bio-MV department's programs
420 third-year students in the Bio-MV department's programs
Mandatory Prerequisites
The bachelor's degree in life sciences is open to high school graduates as well as holders of a DAEU B (Diploma of Access to University Studies—Science Track).
Recommended Prerequisites
A general high school diploma with science courses is strongly recommended to give you the best chance of success. For high school graduates without science courses or those with a technical high school diploma, a preparatory course is recommended.
And then
Continuing Education
Depending on the track they choose, the vast majority of students go on to pursue one of the many professional or research-oriented master’s programs in the life sciences, health sciences, agricultural sciences, and environmental sciences. They may also pursue MEEF master’s programs, which prepare students for teacher certification exams.
The program also prepares students for admission to engineering schools and for further studies in the medical or pharmaceutical fields. It qualifies students to take the “B” entrance exams for the grandes écoles (ENSA: National School of Agronomy; ENV: National Veterinary School).
Continuing Your Education Abroad
It is possible to complete part of your studies abroad through the ERASMUS program and various other programs (such as ERASMUS-MUNDUS, BCI (Quebec), etc.). To do so, you must plan ahead and prepare your application carefully.
Transition Programs and Reorientation
Throughout the three-year bachelor’s program, there are numerous pathways to and from other bachelor’s programs and academic tracks (IUT, BTS, CPGE, engineering schools, etc.). Specific course units also allow students to pursue studies in the health sciences (medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, dentistry, etc.); see LAS.
A specialized track (PCAV) is offered starting in the first year of undergraduate studies for students who wish to prepare for the entrance exams for engineering schools (the joint Polytechnique entrance exam, and the entrance exams for agricultural and veterinary schools).
There are also pathways from the third year of a bachelor's degree (L3) to professional bachelor's degrees (biotechnology, crop production, health and cosmetic products, chemical and pharmaceutical industries, and health).
Employment Placement
Those who choose a career path immediately after graduation typically pursue jobs in research and development (R&D), science outreach, or naturalist consulting. For example, in the pharmaceutical or agri-food industries, they hold positions such as research associate, biologist, or quality and safety officer; in science outreach, they hold positions such as program coordinator at museums or departmental or regional nature parks, or science educator; they may also become technicians conducting impact studies or surveys.
The SV bachelor's degree also qualifies students to take the state and local government civil service exams (Categories B or C).