Training structure
Faculty of Science, Faculty of Pharmacy
Presentation
Program
Select a program
L3 - Biotechnology-Traceability-Bioresources
This Biotechnology and Traceability course, part of the Life Sciences bachelor's degree, is a multidisciplinary program with a strong focus on biotechnology and nanobiotechnology dedicated to traceability: detection and diagnosis. The last few decades, with their share of viral pandemics, have highlighted the health challenges of rapid and reliable diagnosis. Fundamental biology has provided an arsenal of biomarkers. Biotechnologies ranging from genetic engineering to immunotechnology have provided a wealth of practical applications in the field of traceability. Today, it is a multidisciplinary convergence that is leading to the development of new microdevices, biosensors that will be able to meet the needs of future generations.
Open course in Health Access (L.AS).
Structural Biochemistry
4 creditsRegulations / Legislation
3 creditsImmunology (from response to infection to autoimmune diseases)
4 creditsEnglish S5
2 creditsInnovative approaches in metabolic engineering
3 creditsMolecular Biology
5 creditsIntroduction to Nano-biotechnologies
5 creditsBiotechnology S5
4 credits
L3 - Biochemistry
The Biochemistry program within the Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences is a course of study at the intersection of Biology and Chemistry. The various courses offered during the three years of the Bachelor's degree are designed to prepare students for the professional world, but above all for further study in a Master's program or engineering school.
At the University of Montpellier, the Biochemistry program allows students to continue their studies mainly in a Master's degree in Biology-Health or Pharmaceutical Sciences. This demanding program is both generalist, incorporating many disciplines of biology (biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology, genetics, microbiology, etc.), and more specific (structural biology, enzymology, biomolecular chemistry, and mathematics for biology).
Open course in Health Access (L.AS).
Structural Biochemistry
4 creditsEnzymology
5 creditsCommunication Techniques and Scientific English
4 creditsEnglish S5
2 creditsMolecular Biology
5 creditsFunctional genetics
5 creditsIntegrated Cellular Metabolism
5 credits
L3 - Plant Biology for Agro-Environment
The Plant Biology for Agro-Environment (BiPAgro) course in the Life Sciences Bachelor's Degree (L-SV) provides initial multidisciplinary training in the concepts and methods of biology in the fields of biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology, genetics, physiology, and biotechnology, with a progressive specialization in plant sciences. This program aims to provide an understanding of how plants function and their ability to adapt to their environment. It enables students to acquire fundamental knowledge about model species and species of agronomic interest in order to understand current issues in plant production, input management, and the design of tomorrow's plant agroscience. A distinctive feature of the program is its strong links with the plant biology research community in Montpellier, enabling a teaching approach that integrates research training. Training in fundamental or applied research is provided through a long compulsory internship at the end of the third year—rare in a bachelor's degree program—which equips students to prepare for their post-bachelor's future. The presence in Montpellier of major plant biology research organizations (INRAE, CNRS, IRD, CIRAD), plant experimentation stations, and agroscience companies provides a large pool of potential internships suited to the career plans of most students. There is a large network of Master's and PhD students in the field of agrosciences at the Montpellier site.
Open course in Health Access (L.AS).
CHOICE1
3 creditsChoose one of two options:
Plant development
7 creditsCommunication Techniques and Scientific English
4 creditsEnglish S5
2 creditsMolecular Biology
5 creditsBiotechnology S5
4 creditsFunctional genetics
5 credits
Fundamentals of agroecology
3 creditsAutotrophy
8 creditsGreen internship
Plant genetic engineering
6 creditsProject or internship
3 credits
L3 - Biology-Ecology
The Biology and Ecology (BE) program within the Life Sciences (SV) bachelor's degree is a multidisciplinary scientific program focused on the study of organisms (of all types: animals, plants, fungi, bacteria, etc.), their evolution, and their ecology, in the scientific sense of the term, i.e., the scientific study of the relationship between organisms and their environment, as well as the interactions they develop between themselves and with their environment. bacteria, etc.), their evolution, and their ecology, in the scientific sense of the term, i.e., the scientific study of the relationship between organisms and their environment, as well as the interactions they develop with each other (societal or political ecology and environmentalism are not central to the program, although they are sometimes addressed in classes). The fourth major discipline of our program is the acquisition and mastery of the mathematical and statistical tools essential to ecology and evolutionary biology. Finally, the choice of specific teaching units allows you to specialize in paleontology or paleoecology through the study of Earth sciences.
NB: L3 BE builds heavily on the theoretical and methodological aspects taught in L2, extending them further. It also requires a high degree of independence and involves a significant amount of group work in addition to classroom-based teaching.
S5 tutored projects
4 creditsEvolutionary ecology
4 creditsGenetic bases of evolution
4 creditsCHOICE1
4 creditsChoose 1 out of 6
Geology of sedimentary basins
4 creditsOrganization, development, and diversity of Spermatophytes
4 creditsNaturalist specialization 2
4 creditsAnimal behavior biology
4 creditsEcotoxicology
4 creditsComparative Animal Physiology of Integrated Systems
4 credits
Choose 1 out of 6
Animal behavior biology
4 creditsEcotoxicology
4 creditsNaturalist specialization 2
4 creditsOrganization, development, and diversity of Spermatophytes
4 creditsGeology of sedimentary basins
4 creditsViews of the landscape
4 credits
Microorganisms
4 creditsDiversity and evolution of present and past metazoans N3
4 creditsBiological data modeling
4 creditsEnglish S5
2 credits
Evolutionary Ecology and its applications
1 creditS6 tutored projects
4 creditsDiversity and phylogeny of angiosperms
4 creditsEvolutionary ecology and its applications
5 creditsAssemblages of species from the local to the global
4 creditsCHOICE1
4 creditsChoose 1 out of 5
Field methods in ecology
4 creditsBiodiversity conservation: ethics, threats, restoration
4 creditsModeling living organisms: applications
4 creditsNaturalist project
4 creditsPaleoecology and biostratigraphy
4 credits
Choose 1 out of 6
Naturalist project
4 creditsField methods in ecology
4 creditsForest ecology
4 creditsBiodiversity conservation: ethics, threats, restoration
4 creditsMathematical modeling of living organisms
4 creditsPaleoecology and biostratigraphy
4 credits
CHOICE2
4 creditsChoose 1 to 6 out of 6
Architecture and morphogenesis of the whole plant
4 creditsAquatic ecology
4 creditsIntroduction to Molecular Ecology
4 creditsPhylogeny of mammals
4 creditsAdaptations to Parasitism
4 creditsTools and methods for reconstructing paleoenvironments
4 credits
CHOICE3
4 creditsChoose 1 out of 5
CHOICE4
4 creditsMeteorology, climatology, and the water cycle
2 creditsMeteorology/climatology/environment
2 credits16,5h
Science communication
4 creditsEducational project setup UniverlaCité program
4 creditsHealth, environment, and global changes
4 creditsScience and Society: history of science, ethics, critical thinking
4 credits
Choose 1 out of 4
L3 - Biotechnology-Teaching Professions
The Biotechnology Teaching Professions (Bio-ME) program is a multidisciplinary scientific course aimed at students who, after obtaining their bachelor's degree, wish to enroll in the MEEF2nd degree Master's program in Biotechnology with a specialization in Biochemistry and Biological Engineering in order to become certified teachers of Biotechnology, Biochemistry, and Biological Engineering in high schools.
This program builds on existing Bachelor's degree programs in Life Sciences, reinforced by specific course units focusing on teaching skills, didactics, and pedagogy in biotechnology. The program culminates in a high school internship, bringing students into contact with the professional world of education.
Open course in Health Access (L.AS).
Immunology (from response to infection to autoimmune diseases)
4 creditsEnglish S5
2 creditsMolecular Biology
5 creditsBiotechnology S5
4 creditsMicrobiology 3
5 creditsIntegrated Cellular Metabolism
5 creditsPedagogy and Didactics of Biotechnology
5 credits
Infection & Immunity
3 creditsPractical Work in Molecular Biology
6 creditsMolecular Engineering
Molecular tools dedicated to detection and diagnosis
4 creditsGenetics & Epigenetics
4 creditsObservation internship at a technical high school
5 creditsVirology
4 credits
L3- Molecular and Cellular Biology
The Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) track of the Life Sciences bachelor's degree is an undergraduate science program that provides a broad overview of the life sciences, with a particular focus on the inner workings of eukaryotic cells. Students gradually move toward specialization over the three years of the program.
Open course in Health Access (L.AS).
Structural Biochemistry
4 creditsCommunication Techniques and Scientific English
4 creditsEnglish S5
2 creditsMolecular Biology
5 creditsFunctional genetics
5 creditsIntegrated Cellular Metabolism
5 creditsAdvanced Cell Biology 1: Experimental Approaches
5 credits
Developmental biology
Practical Work in Molecular Biology
6 creditsMolecular Engineering
Advanced Cell Biology 2: Key Concepts
5 creditsGenetics & Epigenetics
4 creditsProject or internship
3 creditsVirology
4 credits
L3 - Microbiology
The Microbiology track of the Life Sciences bachelor's degree is a multidisciplinary scientific program focused on the study of microorganisms in the broad sense (prokaryotes, viruses, eukaryotic microorganisms). Students will gain in-depth knowledge of their structures and functions, as well as how they reproduce. Genetics, the molecular mechanisms involved, and their regulation will be examined for different microorganisms.
Their roles in the environment and the different modes of interaction between microorganisms and their hosts will be discussed. Their use in biotechnology, their impact on animal and plant pathology, and their interactions with immune defense mechanisms will be studied.
Measures for combating pathogens will also be detailed.
This "Microbiology" course aims to show the great diversity of the microbial world and the many applications of this discipline, particularly in the fields of health and the environment.
Open course in Health Access (L.AS).
A practical approach to bacterial biodiversity
6 creditsCommunication Techniques and Scientific English
4 creditsImmunology (from response to infection to autoimmune diseases)
4 creditsEnglish S5
2 creditsMolecular Biology
5 creditsBiotechnology S5
4 creditsMicrobiology 3
5 credits
Infection & Immunity
3 creditsHistory of biology and bioethics
Practical Work in Molecular Biology
6 creditsMicrobial ecology
4 creditsMolecular Engineering
Microbiology of eukaryotes
4 creditsProject or internship
3 creditsVirology
4 credits
L3 - Animal Physiology and Neuroscience
The Animal Physiology/Neuroscience track of the Life Sciences bachelor's degree is a multidisciplinary scientific program that addresses the physiological functioning of animals, including humans, with a strong focus on three disciplines: neuroscience, muscular and cardiac physiology, and nutrition.
Open course in Health Access (L.AS).
Communication Techniques and Scientific English
4 creditsPractical Work in Animal Physiology
4 creditsImmunology (from response to infection to autoimmune diseases)
4 creditsOlfactory and Gustatory Physiology
4 creditsEnglish S5
2 creditsIntegrated Neurobiology and Cognition
4 creditsCellular Neurobiology and Neurophysiology
4 creditsCardiac Physiology
4 credits
Cellular Communication and Pharmacology
4 creditsNeuropathology
Muscular and Cardiac Disorders
5 creditsPhysiology and Pathology of Nutrition
4 creditsSensory Neurophysiology and Motor Skills
4 creditsEndocrine physiology
5 creditsProject or internship
3 credits
L3 - SVSE APP-Bio menu
The APP-Bio course in the Life Sciences Bachelor's degree program is entirely problem-based and project-based from L1 to L3. It is an active, student-centered program that emphasizes both cross-disciplinary skills and specialized skills in biology. These skills will be developed through team activities and independent work. Using concrete cross-disciplinary case studies in each Biology course unit, students will be required to formulate hypotheses and verify them by seeking information from scientifically reliable sources. Over the course of the three years, students will gradually acquire the ability to independently sort through information sources.
Teaching is mainly in the form of tutorials and practical work, with scientific lectures or consolidation classes limited to three hours per week. Three times a week, the group is supervised by a tutor who reviews what has been learned and guides students in their learning. Assessments are aligned with learning outcomes. Numerous self-assessments will be available each week. The Biology teaching units are organized sequentially, incorporating elements from complementary disciplines (Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Statistics, English, etc.): You only have one Biology teaching unit at a time; once it is finished, you complete the assessments and move on to the next one. Each year, a professionalization or pre-professionalization course unit allows you to validate your progress in cross-disciplinary skills as well as the disciplinary knowledge acquired during the year. The program ends with a multidisciplinary team project in popular science and a two-month personal project or internship.
General Knowledge APP
2 creditsCHOICE
24 creditsChoose one of two options:
CHOICE1
Environmental Methodology
10 creditsMethodology in Biology Mechanisms of Life
10 credits
CHOICE2
Specialization 1 in Environment
14 creditsSpecialization 1 in Biology Mechanisms of Life
14 credits
SV APP Professionalization
2 creditsEnglish S5 in APP
2 credits
Multidisciplinary APP project
6 creditsEnglish S6 in APP
2 creditsCHOICE
22 creditsChoose one of two options:
L3 Health Engineering
Fields of teaching: Health
Type of degree: Bachelor's degree
Description:
This bachelor's degree program will enable students to acquire the knowledge in physical chemistry, pharmacology, biology, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology necessary to pursue a master's degree specializing in the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, biotechnology, and environmental health industries.
The Bachelor's degree is part of a preparatory course for the "Health Engineering" program, "Health Engineering and Professions" specialization, with a focus on "Health Biology."
The L2 and L3 programs are gateways to the Master's in Biology and Health Research or other health-related Master's programs offered at other universities.
Grouping Coherent 1 Semester 5
20 creditsGrouping Coherent 2 EU Cross-disciplinary language Week 5
10 creditsCommunication techniques - PEC
3 creditsTechnical and regulatory environment of the healthcare industries - Scientific documentation
3 creditsModern languages Semes. 5
4 creditsModern languages Semester 5
Choose 1 out of 3
Modern Languages II Spanish
2 creditsModern Languages II German
2 creditsModern Languages II Other Language
2 credits
English
2 credits
Internship
2 creditsGrouping Coherent 3 Scientific ECTS Semester 6
21.5 creditsCompounding pharmacy
5 creditsSurface phenomena
3 creditsEnvironmental Engineering - Radiobiology - Nutrition
5 creditsBiological & Cellular Engineering
5 creditsMethods for the statistical analysis of pharmaceutical data
3.5 credits
Coherent Grouping 4 EU Language Transfers Week 6
6.5 creditsQuality Management-Marketing-Statistical Quality Control
2.5 creditsLiving diapers Semester 6
English
2 creditsLiving diapers Choice Semester 6
Choose 1 out of 3
Modern Languages II Other Language
2 creditsModern Languages II Spanish
2 creditsModern Languages II German
2 credits
L3 - BIOproduction and BIOtechnologies for Health (BIO²S)
The BIOproduction and BIOtechnologies for Health (BIO²S) program, part of the Life Sciences major, specifically addresses the need in the health biotechnology sector to train senior technicians specializing in bioproduction and biotechnologies in the field of health. The BIO²S bachelor's degree trains technicians in bioproduction and biotechnologies for health, meeting the growing needs for biomedicines. These products derived from living organisms represent more than half of the therapeutic molecules in development, requiring new bioproduction plants.
This program will provide theoretical instruction (knowledge of drugs, immunotechnology, quality control, molecular engineering, technical English, bioproduction, cell biology, and microbiology) as well as practical instruction through experimental projects. Project-based learning will be cross-disciplinary across several teaching units, enabling students to establish interactions and connections between the different disciplines taught. This Life Sciences program will be open to all students as an apprenticeship. It will focus on professionalization by highlighting recent industrial applications and associated biotechnological tools, implementing numerous practical projects, and involving external experts.
Recombinant protein expression systems
6 creditsEnglish
2 creditsMolecular engineering and construction of producer clones
6 creditsQuality management and data analysis
6 creditsKnowledge of biologics
2 creditsImmunotechnologies
4 credits
USP (upstream process)
8 creditsChoice of Work-Study Program / Long Internship
20 creditsChoose one of two options:
Long Internship
20 creditsWork-study program
20 credits
DSP (downstream process)
4 creditsDocumentation and activity reports
2 credits
Structural Biochemistry
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This course offers an in-depth study of the structural biochemistry of biomolecules, particularly proteins and nucleic acids.
The basic concepts and nomenclature used for analyzing 3D protein structures are briefly reviewed (Ramachandran diagram, 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 detailed according to 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 different structures and functions of nucleic acids are studied. Protein-nucleic acid complexes are described from a structural point of view (main recognition motifs, etc.) and the concepts of recognition specificity are detailed.
This teaching is illustrated in tutorials. These tutorials consist of familiarizing 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
ECTS
3 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The EU aims to help students understand the threefold relationship between safety, legislation, and detection tools. Human activity meets the needs of population growth, well-being, and health, and requires the monitoring of industrial practices. Rules on pollutant limits and other factors involve acceptable limits that must be quantifiable.
The EU addresses European food safety laws that involve pragmatic approaches to industry compliance: the regulatory system. Biology students who will be working in various sectors, from agronomy to health, must have a basic understanding of quality management.
Immunology (from response to infection to autoimmune diseases)
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This EU is a logical continuation of the S4 EU (Fundamentals of Physiology and Immunology) and aims to deepen knowledge of fundamental, applied, and clinical immunology. We will also address "unconventional" concepts in immunology and develop innovative immunotherapy strategies. This course unit will cover all topics related to modern immunology and will be strongly oriented towards the clinical aspects of this discipline.
Keywords
Fundamental immunology, Anti-infectious immunity, Immunotherapy, Vaccination, Autoimmunity, Immune deficiencies, Anti-cancer immunity, Non-conventional immunity
English S5
ECTS
2 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Innovative approaches in metabolic engineering
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
3 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
In this EU, students work in groups to conduct bibliographic research on a selection of medicinal plants during supervised tutorials 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 in practical work an extraction protocol and a simple biological activity test protocol to test the biostatic, antibiotic, or antioxidant activity of the targeted molecules. The literature review process and the results obtained in practical work, along with their analysis and interpretation, will be discussed during a poster presentation session, which will be assessed.
Molecular Biology
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
5 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Molecular biology is not only a fascinating subject in its own right, but it also provides other biological disciplines (cell biology, genetics, physiology, etc.) with fantastic tools for modifying and quantifying genes and their products.
The EU is deepening its understanding of the mechanisms involved in 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 interactions between them explain the functioning of eukaryotic cells and their adaptation to the environment and the development of organisms.
At the same time, the main techniques used to monitor or modify gene expression, or to study the mechanisms of this expression, will be presented in lectures and explored in greater depth in tutorials through the analysis of results.
Thus, the tutorials address these topics in the form of (1) exercises that allow students to test their understanding of the knowledge described above, and (2) experiments taken from scientific articles for analysis. In this way, the fundamentals of scientific reasoning and critical analysis of results will be acquired and/or further developed.
Introduction to Nano-biotechnologies
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
5 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This course introduces the basic concepts of nanobiotechnology dedicated to diagnosis and detection.
1- Introduction to biosensors and embedded systems
The different types of electrochemical sensors (conductivity, potentiometry, and amperometry): - Biosensors ranging from Clark electrodes to amperometric glucometers. - Potentiostats: simple standardized measurement systems
- Transistors: semiconductors
- nanotubes or carbon, silicon, graphene, etc. wires
- Impedance measurement
2- Introduction to biomimicry
- Self-assembly of spherical structures; viruses, ferritin, dendrimers
- Self-assembly of monolayers
3- Functional organic chemistry
- Review of organic chemistry from L1
- Biomolecules (functions involved, carbonylated, amines, alcohols, thiols)
- Structures
- Basic concept of functionalization
- Oxidation-reduction reaction
Biotechnology S5
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This teaching unit covers the different categories of biotechnology according to their field of application:
- Plant biotechnology concerns the agri-food industry and encompasses a range of technologies that use plants and plant cells to produce and transform food products, biomaterials, and energy, as well as recombinant proteins for therapeutic purposes.
- Animal biotechnology covers the fields of health, medicine, diagnostics, tissue engineering, and 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 agri-food/pharmaceutical industry, as well as their role in environmental protection.
The teaching offered to students in the Bachelor's Degree in Life Sciences enables them to discover or deepen their theoretical knowledge of different biotechnologies and to master the associated tools/applications.
History of biology and bioethics
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
Training structure
Faculty of Science
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 and the experimental and theoretical approaches that led to their establishment. 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, and how how Etienne Geoffroy Saint Hilaire's concept of "unity of plan of organization" gave rise to evolutionary paleontology, developmental biology, and evolution/development (Evo/Devo).
In the context of bioethical issues, we will address problems such as the distortion of a concept (from craniology to eugenics) and the cases of Georges Cuvier and Trophim Lysenko, where religious or political ideology interfered with science.
Finally, biological philosophy will lead us to discuss the value of models in biology and the "end of genetics" (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.
Practical Work in Molecular Biology
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
6 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The molecular biology practical aims to enable students to work independently with molecular biology protocols and introduce them to hypothesis-driven research. Students will have six days to respond to a biological problem that will be presented to them. This will allow them to put some of the techniques covered in their theoretical classes into practice in a laboratory setting, thereby gaining a better understanding of them.
Molecular Engineering
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
Training structure
Faculty of Science
As part of this course, students will learn experimental principles based on the manipulation of nucleic acids. Lectures will focus on two main areas:
- Implementation of molecular tools (cloning, nucleic acid analysis, vectorology) ii. Their applications (recombinant protein expression, genomic banking, transgenesis, CRISPR/CAS9 system, etc.) and reflection on the concept of ethics in biology.
The tutorials will consist of:
- Analysis of articles presenting issues to be resolved using the knowledge acquired in the course. The topics chosen will, as far as possible, refer to parallel L3 teaching units. These articles will be presented by students in the form of oral presentations by groups of 3 to 4 students to the whole class.
- Sessions reserved for the use of basic bioinformatics tools in the computer lab.
Molecular tools dedicated to detection and diagnosis
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The aim of the course is to review molecular identification techniques, with a focus on biomarkers, advances in the latest generations of biomarkers and selective membranes, and new instrumentation.
Molecular diagnostic techniques / mass approaches.
Biosynthesis of Ag receptors in B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes
Antigen-antibody reactions
Immunological techniques
FACS principle
Proteomics, 2D, LC-MS, MS-MS. Degradome...
Biosensors and instrumentation
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
6 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The course provides an in-depth look at biosensor design. It begins by introducing the general concepts of graft chemistry for the functionalization of supports. Finally, an introduction to microfluidics will lead students to design the instrumentation. This course will essentially be a practical application with real bibliographic research that will allow students to work on their own instrument development project.
Project or internship
ECTS
3 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The terms and conditions of this course unit are specifically tailored to the different L3 programs. However, 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/company or a supervised project with a tutor working in a laboratory or company associated with biology.
Virology
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The EU aims to acquire knowledge of fundamental and applied virology, with a focus on an integrative approach to the discipline. It will present the specificities of host-virus interactions and the pathophysiology of viral infections in different types of hosts (vertebrates/insects/plants). It will address aspects of viral ecology, emergence, and associated risks to human and animal health. Finally, the EU will present the research methods used, virological detection and diagnostic tools, and applications of viruses in biotechnology.
The EU will be taught in the form of lectures, tutorials (analysis of current scientific articles and oral presentations) and practical work illustrating the lectures and tutorials (virus amplification and purification and quantification using reference techniques).
Structural Biochemistry
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This course offers an in-depth study of the structural biochemistry of biomolecules, particularly proteins and nucleic acids.
The basic concepts and nomenclature used for analyzing 3D protein structures are briefly reviewed (Ramachandran diagram, 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 detailed according to 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 different structures and functions of nucleic acids are studied. Protein-nucleic acid complexes are described from a structural point of view (main recognition motifs, etc.) and the concepts of recognition specificity are detailed.
This teaching is illustrated in tutorials. These tutorials consist of familiarizing 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
ECTS
5 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This course provides fundamental knowledge in formal and structural enzymology.
- The first part of this course deals with formal kinetics (study of reaction rates, determination of the order of a reaction, equilibrium and kinetics, reversible and balanced reactions). The experimental aspects are presented in parallel (determination of kinetic constants by spectrophotometry, fluorescence, radioactivity, immunoassays, etc.).
- The second part of the course focuses on the study of single-substrate enzyme kinetics.
Definition of an enzyme, catalyst. Enzyme nomenclature (EC)
Michaelis kinetics. Michaelis-Menten equation. Definition of enzyme parameters,KM, maximum velocity, catalytic constant, turnover. Different graphical representations (Lineweaer-Burk, Eadie-Hofstee).
The different types of inhibition are also studied (competitive, noncompetitive, mixed) as well as their graphical representation.
Determination of inhibition constancy. Irreversible inhibitors.
Reaction rate. Arrhenius law.
- The third section focuses on describing multi-substrate enzyme kinetics from a formal perspective. With ternary complexes. Random or ordered mechanism.
Without ternary complex. Ping-Pong mechanism, Theorell-Chance. Cleland representation.
Graphical determination.
- The fourth part concerns equilibrium bonds and allostery.
Receptor-ligand/enzyme-substrate binding. Determination of the dissociation (or association) constant. Specific and non-specific binding.
Demonstration and graphical representation of Scatchard. Allosteric receptors (or enzymes). Non-Michaelian enzyme. Concept of cooperativity. Positive and negative cooperativity. Hill number, Hill graph.
Allosteric regulation models are presented. Allostery. Cooperative models: 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 links enzyme structures and their function using several examples. Description of the 3D structures and catalytic mechanisms of acetylcholinesterase, proteases, and nucleoside diphosphate kinase. Concept of catalytic triad, binding pocket, etc.
Communication Techniques and Scientific English
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This course describes the methodology used by life science researchers to communicate the results of their experiments, both in writing and orally. As English is the common language of international researchers, a large part of this course is taught in English.
Written communication is addressed through the study of the (macro) structure of a research article and an examination of the publication process in scientific journals. Several elements of written structure (micro) are examined in order to understand the differences between scientific English and literary English: clarity, cohesion, and coherence.
These studies are supplemented by a supervised project during the semester, in which students are required to analyze a research article recently published in scientific literature and transcribe it in the form of an oral presentation (conference) in English.
English S5
ECTS
2 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Molecular Biology
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
5 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Molecular biology is not only a fascinating subject in its own right, but it also provides other biological disciplines (cell biology, genetics, physiology, etc.) with fantastic tools for modifying and quantifying genes and their products.
The EU is deepening its understanding of the mechanisms involved in 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 interactions between them explain the functioning of eukaryotic cells and their adaptation to the environment and the development of organisms.
At the same time, the main techniques used to monitor or modify gene expression, or to study the mechanisms of this expression, will be presented in lectures and explored in greater depth in tutorials through the analysis of results.
Thus, the tutorials address these topics in the form of (1) exercises that allow students to test their understanding of the knowledge described above, and (2) experiments taken from scientific articles for analysis. In this way, the fundamentals of scientific reasoning and critical analysis of results will be acquired and/or further developed.
Functional genetics
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
5 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Functional genetics aims to better understand the relationships between genotype and phenotype. This course integrates the various aspects of gene and genome function analysis at the whole-genome level using in vivo approaches, as well as transcriptional regulation and regulation of eukaryotic genome expression. The course is illustrated with concrete examples in developmental genetics in physiological and pathological contexts.
Integrated Cellular Metabolism
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
5 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This course unit allows students to deepen their knowledge of metabolism. It provides a comprehensive overview of human metabolism, emphasizing the links between different metabolic pathways. It also shows how different tissues communicate to maintain overall energy homeostasis. Disruptions in this metabolism that cause certain diseases will be presented.
Structural Biology and Interactions
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
5 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This course builds on the Structural Biochemistry course in S5. Students will learn the basic concepts of the different approaches used for multi-scale structural characterization and the analysis of macromolecular interactions. The advantages and limitations of all the tools will be highlighted so that students can understand how they complement each other and know how to use them in an integrated way to answer a given biological question.
The tutorials will be a mix of structural analysis using visualization tools (such as Pymol) and analysis of articles using a combination of the approaches studied in CM. Students will then be required to conceptualize their own experimental project to address a given problem.
Mathematics for Biology
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The course provides a comprehensive overview of the concepts required for mathematical modeling in biology. The focus is on linear and nonlinear dynamic systems in one and two dimensions. The course begins with essential concepts in linear algebra: matrices, systems of linear equations, geometric interpretation of the solutions to these systems as vectors and subspaces (line, plane, etc.). The theory of vectors and eigenvalues of matrices is introduced in relation to linear dynamic systems. For nonlinear dynamical systems, we present the qualitative theory of differential equations (attractors, phase portraits, zero-level isoclines) as an alternative to the often complicated calculation of solutions. The tutorial covers a large number of biological models used in ecology, epidemiology, oncology, and systems biology.
Practical Work in Biochemistry
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
6 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This course unit allows students to consolidate and deepen their practical management of the large amount of experimental data obtained during a week of practical work in a block period (5 consecutive days). This data is obtained following the development of numerous different protocols, with a view to ensuring the best possible reproducibility of the preparations carried out and the fastest possible execution in the preparation, implementation, and analysis of the various experiments. A high degree of autonomy in the implementation of protocols will be encouraged, ultimately leading to experimental mastery and autonomy. These practical sessions also allow for group work (in pairs or threes, depending on capacity and numbers) and the writing of a report detailing the protocols carried out, all the experimental data obtained, and their analysis in order to determine a wide range of biochemical parameters. A significant part of the assessment will be based on the students' ability to generate, manage, exploit, and analyze raw experimental data with the utmost rigor.
Molecular Engineering
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
Training structure
Faculty of Science
As part of this course, students will learn experimental principles based on the manipulation of nucleic acids. Lectures will focus on two main areas:
- Implementation of molecular tools (cloning, nucleic acid analysis, vectorology) ii. Their applications (recombinant protein expression, genomic banking, transgenesis, CRISPR/CAS9 system, etc.) and reflection on the concept of ethics in biology.
The tutorials will consist of:
- Analysis of articles presenting issues to be resolved using the knowledge acquired in the course. The topics chosen will, as far as possible, refer to parallel L3 teaching units. These articles will be presented by students in the form of oral presentations by groups of 3 to 4 students to the whole class.
- Sessions reserved for the use of basic bioinformatics tools in the computer lab.
Advanced Cell Biology 2: Key Concepts
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
5 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This course unit aims, in both lecture and tutorial formats, to supplement the concepts of cell biology covered in L2 in BCM2 and BCM3 through the study of physiological and pathological conditions such as cancer.
These courses will introduce students to the importance of finding a suitable model system (cell lines or organisms for in vivo studies (Drosophila, C. elegans, zebrafish)) for answering a question and demonstrating a molecular mechanism.
The tutorials will enable students to work with advanced concepts in cell biology in conjunction with knowledge of the most commonly used methodologies in cell biology, such as flow cytometry, advanced fluorescence microscopy and electron microscopy techniques, proteomics, and knowledge of experimental models such as cultured cells, genetically modified and non-genetically modified animal models (C. elegans, zebrafish, transgenic mice, KO, KI, etc.). zebrafish, transgenic mice, KO, KI, etc.).
Systems biology
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
3 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Systems biology offers the possibility of understanding how living organisms function at different levels of their organization. This course will focus primarily on the subcellular level. At this level, systems biology models integrate several levels of interaction from 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 fundamental research on the principles of how living organisms function. The course includes a theoretical component (lectures and tutorials on gene, signaling, and metabolic network modeling) and a practical component (computer labs using Matlab software).
Project or internship
ECTS
3 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The terms and conditions of this course unit are specifically tailored to the different L3 programs. However, 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/company or a supervised project with a tutor working in a laboratory or company associated with biology.
Bioinformatics applied to plant biology
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
3 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Bioinformatics is a discipline at the crossroads of computer science, mathematics, and life sciences. It relies in particular on the use and development of computer 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 "Bioinformatics Applied to Plant Biology" teaching unit aims to familiarize students with the use of databases and offer an introduction to data exploration using R software.
Almost all of the teaching will take the form of practical case studies in the computer lab in small groups of students.
In the first part, students will learn the basics of the R programming language, enabling them to organize and clean their raw data so that it can be fully exploited for subsequent analysis. They will then learn how to produce clear graphical representations based on biological data. Particular attention will be paid to writing reusable scripts and choosing the appropriate graphics for the calculations, depending on the biological question.
In the second part, students will use general databases such as NCBI or databases exclusively dedicated to the model plant Arabidopsis (TAIR) to perform data mining.
Innovative approaches in metabolic engineering
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
3 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
In this EU, students work in groups to conduct bibliographic research on a selection of medicinal plants during supervised tutorials 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 in practical work an extraction protocol and a simple biological activity test protocol to test the biostatic, antibiotic, or antioxidant activity of the targeted molecules. The literature review process and the results obtained in practical work, along with their analysis and interpretation, will be discussed during a poster presentation session, which will be assessed.
Plant development
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
7 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This course is a specialization module in Functional Plant Biology that addresses the mechanisms underlying the major stages of plant development.
It draws on knowledge derived mainly from the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana and addresses the following concepts from a molecular, cellular, and physiological perspective:
- Roles and functioning of the main plant hormones.
- Development of male and female gametes, fertilization.
- Development of the embryo, seed, and fruit.
- Functioning of root and shoot meristems (vegetative and floral).
- Flower architecture.
- Adaptive development mechanisms in response to abiotic factors: light, gravity, 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 terrestrial plants (evolution of the root system, floral architecture, etc.).
Communication Techniques and Scientific English
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This course describes the methodology used by life science researchers to communicate the results of their experiments, both in writing and orally. As English is the common language of international researchers, a large part of this course is taught in English.
Written communication is addressed through the study of the (macro) structure of a research article and an examination of the publication process in scientific journals. Several elements of written structure (micro) are examined in order to understand the differences between scientific English and literary English: clarity, cohesion, and coherence.
These studies are supplemented by a supervised project during the semester, in which students are required to analyze a research article recently published in scientific literature and transcribe it in the form of an oral presentation (conference) in English.
English S5
ECTS
2 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Molecular Biology
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
5 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Molecular biology is not only a fascinating subject in its own right, but it also provides other biological disciplines (cell biology, genetics, physiology, etc.) with fantastic tools for modifying and quantifying genes and their products.
The EU is deepening its understanding of the mechanisms involved in 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 interactions between them explain the functioning of eukaryotic cells and their adaptation to the environment and the development of organisms.
At the same time, the main techniques used to monitor or modify gene expression, or to study the mechanisms of this expression, will be presented in lectures and explored in greater depth in tutorials through the analysis of results.
Thus, the tutorials address these topics in the form of (1) exercises that allow students to test their understanding of the knowledge described above, and (2) experiments taken from scientific articles for analysis. In this way, the fundamentals of scientific reasoning and critical analysis of results will be acquired and/or further developed.
Biotechnology S5
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This teaching unit covers the different categories of biotechnology according to their field of application:
- Plant biotechnology concerns the agri-food industry and encompasses a range of technologies that use plants and plant cells to produce and transform food products, biomaterials, and energy, as well as recombinant proteins for therapeutic purposes.
- Animal biotechnology covers the fields of health, medicine, diagnostics, tissue engineering, and 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 agri-food/pharmaceutical industry, as well as their role in environmental protection.
The teaching offered to students in the Bachelor's Degree in Life Sciences enables them to discover or deepen their theoretical knowledge of different biotechnologies and to master the associated tools/applications.
Functional genetics
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
5 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Functional genetics aims to better understand the relationships between genotype and phenotype. This course integrates the various aspects of gene and genome function analysis at the whole-genome level using in vivo approaches, as well as transcriptional regulation and regulation of eukaryotic genome expression. The course is illustrated with concrete examples in developmental genetics in physiological and pathological contexts.
Fundamentals of agroecology
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
3 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
After defining intensive agriculture and analyzing its risks and benefits, this module will enable students to reflect on the various possible avenues for developing agriculture using an agroecological approach. Examples such as biopesticides, ecological intensification, and soil management will be explored. A visit to a company working towards sustainable agriculture is also organized. The site visited varies from year to year depending on student preferences and company availability. Examples of visits made as part of this module include Bayer, Vilmorin, Geves, CTIFL, and sudExpé.
Licensed.
Students will be asked to present a project or business plan that develops innovative proposals to change farming practices or any other use of plant products in order to reduce environmental impact.
Autotrophy
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
8 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This course unit presents the main functions of carbon, mineral, and water nutrition in plants, which ensure their autotrophy (the production of their biomass). It will provide the necessary foundations 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 plant membranes and walls and the concepts of transmembrane transport, the part of the EU dedicated to mineral nutrition will teach 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 present how chloroplasts function in plant cells, photosynthesis (capturing light energy and synthesizing the first carbon compounds), the production of organic compounds, and their allocation within the plant.
Green internship
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This EU is a module for discovering scientific research in fundamental or applied plant sciences. Students must complete an internship of 10 weeks or more (which may continue into the summer) in a research laboratory (CNRS, INRAE, IRD, CIRAD), in an applied research organization such as GEVES, CTIFL, SudExpe, Serfel, IFV, or in a private company such as Staphyt, AgroXp, or Vilmorin. CIRAD), an applied research organization such as GEVES, CTIFL, SudExpe, Serfel, IFV, or a private company such as Staphyt, AgroXp, or Vilmorin. There are many internship opportunities in this field in the Montpellier area.
This is a module designed to help students enter the professional world by connecting them with key players in the field of plant agricultural sciences, giving students the opportunity to:
- apply the techniques learned in the various courses of the BiPAgro Bachelor's degree program.
- to face the professional environment
- to develop your own career plan and enhance your resume
Students write a thesis that they defend before a panel composed of faculty members, researchers, and/or field technicians/engineers.
Plant genetic engineering
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
6 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
In this course, students deepen their knowledge of the various methods of plant transgenesis using biological, chemical, or physical vectors, their acceptability, and their applications in fields as varied as plant improvement, biomolecule production, and recombinant therapeutic proteins. In tutorials, students are encouraged to research, reflect, argue, and debate transgenesis and its alternatives through a scenario related to plant breeding. In practical work, students are involved in improving a protocol for obtaining root hairs using the knowledge they have acquired in class.
Project or internship
ECTS
3 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The terms and conditions of this course unit are specifically tailored to the different L3 programs. However, 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/company or a supervised project with a tutor working in a laboratory or company associated with biology.
S5 tutored projects
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Students will be required to conduct a bibliographic analysis on a topic of their choice, approved by the EU officials. Under the supervision of a teacher-researcher, students will have to answer the questions they raise through an analysis of the available bibliography. They will have to review the state of the art in their field of work, identify areas of uncertainty and controversy, and open questions that remain to be resolved. They will be required to carry out a genuine critical scientific analysis of the available bibliography, rather than simply summarizing it. They will be required to follow the conventions for writing a scientific article, which involves citing sources, synthesizing information through illustration, problematization, and summarizing scientific results.
Evolutionary ecology
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This course builds on the Evolutionary Foundations course to introduce key concepts in evolutionary ecology in order to understand and formalize, in a simple way, the evolutionary and ecological mechanisms that shape biodiversity at different scales of integration.
This course unit is designed as a coherent whole, with lectures, tutorials, and practicals complementing each other. Concepts are introduced through examples and then formalized using mathematical models, which are tested against experiments and real-world data.
It will cover population dynamics (intra- and interspecific competition) and ecological niche, and will detail the mechanisms of evolution and their genetic consequences at the population level: natural selection (including sexual selection), the influence of reproductive regimes, and genetic drift. The tutorials will enable students to grasp the mathematical formalization of concepts covered in class and their simple computer modeling, as well as data set analysis. The practicals will enable small groups to carry out and analyze two experiments, each lasting one month (with a report and oral presentation), in order to develop scientific methodology and reasoning.
Genetic bases of evolution
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The EU is organized into five main themes:
Topic 1: Genetic mapping and recombination. Concepts of molecular biology related to gene expression, DNA repair, and epigenetic processes.
Theme 2: Introduction to molecular evolution: Measuring the intensity of selection in genetic divergence. Molecular clock and variation in rates of evolution created by the action of natural selection. Neutral theory of evolution.
Theme 3: Introduction to genomics: composition and size of genomes. Importance of repeated elements. Concept of genetic linkage and local selection effects. Influence of demography.
Theme 4: Molecular tools for biodiversity: Barcoding, eDNA, metabarcoding. Molecular taxonomy. Limitations related to hybridization. Applications in conservation.
Theme 5: Extranuclear heredity . Symbiosis, parasitism, and co-evolution (intracellular: e.g., Wolbachia). Extended concept of phenotype.
Geology of sedimentary basins
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Genesis, nature, and future of deposits in sedimentary basins.
Series of 15 lectures/conferences/debates and practical/tutorial sessions
Course content / Integrated practicals / 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
Faculty of Science
The EU aims to offer students an integrative approach to the morphology, anatomy, and development of the vegetative and reproductive systems of spermatophytes, from an ecological, functional, and evolutionary perspective. This approach is implemented by students 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
Faculty of Science
The structure of this course is similar to that developed in S4. The objective is to provide students with knowledge about the biology, ecology, and evolution of three taxonomic groups in question. Beyond species identification (which will be covered extensively), this course will address the evolution and systematics of the taxonomic group in question, fundamental ecology (evolutionary and functional ecology), applied ecology (conservation), physiology, legislation, and methods of study and identification.
After a general introductory course, two areas of study will be offered in parallel. One will focus on cryptogams (algae, lichens, mosses, and fungi), the other on fauna (chiroptera and arthropods).
Cryptogames
The aim of this section is to familiarize students with the extremely diverse organisms known as bryophytes, phaeophytes, and fungi. The principle is 1) to approach these little-known diversities from a naturalist's perspective, 2) to place these observations in an evolutionary perspective (phylogenetic aspects), and 3) to link the observations to the role of these organisms in terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
Finally, the module will address aspects of daily life, economics, and citizenship related to species (toxicology, food, medicine).
Wildlife
The objective is for students to acquire/deepen their knowledge of the biology of arthropods and bats, which are taxonomic groups that are of great interest from the perspective of fundamental ecology studies (ethology, evolutionary ecology, functional ecology), 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. The course will incorporate innovative teaching approaches, combining the use of traditional tools (visual recognition) and modern tools (acoustic identification using software). Among the arthropods, the groups that will be particularly addressed are Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Odonata, and Orthoptera, which represent highly diverse orders that will allow us to best address the concept of species, which is central to biology. Species identification will form the basis for studying their biology and ecology and addressing the concepts of evolution and phylogeny.
Each group (Fauna - Cryptogams) will have 12 hours of fieldwork available (half of which will be shared by both groups) to be carried out according to terms to be defined (4 half-day outings, or 2 full-day outings). Practical work may be carried out on university sites (university campus - Labex CEMEB experimental field at CEFE - Botanical Garden) that are suitable for studying the various organisms.
Cross-cutting concept
The EU is organized around a concept common to both TP groups which, through a flipped classroom approach, will enable students to use the species observed to identify key concepts in conservation biology. In S5, the concept of species (and related entities such as subspecies, hybrids, etc.) will be discussed in depth from both a theoretical and practical perspective. This concept will enable students to address 1. the foundations and limitations of different perspectives on species (morphological, genetic, ecological), 2. methodological problems related to the identification of taxa in the field and in the laboratory, and 3. the issues this raises from the point of view of species conservation. To this end, at the end of the sequence, students will present a taxon, from among those proposed in the course unit, whose identification proves to be complex.
Animal behavior biology
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The aim of this teaching unit is to understand animal behavior in an integrative way, in light of Tinbergen's four "whys," from its ontogenesis to its evolution: from its ontogenesis and neurobiological causes to its evolution and biological functions. In addition to historical, conceptual, and methodological contributions, students will be guided in understanding the diversity of traits involved, as well as the diversity of approaches and associated scientific questions.
Ecotoxicology
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Ecotoxicology concerns the study of the effects of pollutants on living species and on the structure and functioning of ecosystems. This course unit aims to provide a better understanding of:
- the main types of organic and mineral pollutants (historical or 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 integration (molecule, individual, communities),
- methods for assessing biological effects, environmental quality, and ecotoxicological risk within the current European regulatory framework,
- bioremediation processes through several case studies.
Comparative Animal Physiology of Integrated Systems
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The objective of this proposed course in L3S5 is to acquire knowledge about the organization, development, and functioning of different physiological systems in animals. More specifically, the functions of circulation, thermoregulation, hormonal regulation, and nervous integration will be addressed using a comparative approach (examples drawn from different taxonomic groups) and in an evolutionary context. Questions related to the bioethical aspects of animal physiology experimentation will also be addressed.
Animal behavior biology
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The aim of this teaching unit is to understand animal behavior in an integrative way, in light of Tinbergen's four "whys," from its ontogenesis to its evolution: from its ontogenesis and neurobiological causes to its evolution and biological functions. In addition to historical, conceptual, and methodological contributions, students will be guided in understanding the diversity of traits involved, as well as the diversity of approaches and associated scientific questions.
Ecotoxicology
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Ecotoxicology concerns the study of the effects of pollutants on living species and on the structure and functioning of ecosystems. This course unit aims to provide a better understanding of:
- the main types of organic and mineral pollutants (historical or 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 integration (molecule, individual, communities),
- methods for assessing biological effects, environmental quality, and ecotoxicological risk within the current European regulatory framework,
- bioremediation processes through several case studies.
Naturalist specialization 2
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The structure of this course is similar to that developed in S4. The objective is to provide students with knowledge about the biology, ecology, and evolution of three taxonomic groups in question. Beyond species identification (which will be covered extensively), this course will address the evolution and systematics of the taxonomic group in question, fundamental ecology (evolutionary and functional ecology), applied ecology (conservation), physiology, legislation, and methods of study and identification.
After a general introductory course, two areas of study will be offered in parallel. One will focus on cryptogams (algae, lichens, mosses, and fungi), the other on fauna (chiroptera and arthropods).
Cryptogames
The aim of this section is to familiarize students with the extremely diverse organisms known as bryophytes, phaeophytes, and fungi. The principle is 1) to approach these little-known diversities from a naturalist's perspective, 2) to place these observations in an evolutionary perspective (phylogenetic aspects), and 3) to link the observations to the role of these organisms in terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
Finally, the module will address aspects of daily life, economics, and citizenship related to species (toxicology, food, medicine).
Wildlife
The objective is for students to acquire/deepen their knowledge of the biology of arthropods and bats, which are taxonomic groups that are of great interest from the perspective of fundamental ecology studies (ethology, evolutionary ecology, functional ecology), 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. The course will incorporate innovative teaching approaches, combining the use of traditional tools (visual recognition) and modern tools (acoustic identification using software). Among the arthropods, the groups that will be particularly addressed are Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Odonata, and Orthoptera, which represent highly diverse orders that will allow us to best address the concept of species, which is central to biology. Species identification will form the basis for studying their biology and ecology and addressing the concepts of evolution and phylogeny.
Each group (Fauna - Cryptogams) will have 12 hours of fieldwork available (half of which will be shared by both groups) to be carried out according to terms to be defined (4 half-day outings, or 2 full-day outings). Practical work may be carried out on university sites (university campus - Labex CEMEB experimental field at CEFE - Botanical Garden) that are suitable for studying the various organisms.
Cross-cutting concept
The EU is organized around a concept common to both TP groups which, through a flipped classroom approach, will enable students to use the species observed to identify key concepts in conservation biology. In S5, the concept of species (and related entities such as subspecies, hybrids, etc.) will be discussed in depth from both a theoretical and practical perspective. This concept will enable students to address 1. the foundations and limitations of different perspectives on species (morphological, genetic, ecological), 2. methodological problems related to the identification of taxa in the field and in the laboratory, and 3. the issues this raises from the point of view of species conservation. To this end, at the end of the sequence, students will present a taxon, from among those proposed in the course unit, whose identification proves to be complex.
Organization, development, and diversity of Spermatophytes
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The EU aims to offer students an integrative approach to the morphology, anatomy, and development of the vegetative and reproductive systems of spermatophytes, from an ecological, functional, and evolutionary perspective. This approach is implemented by students 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
Faculty of Science
Genesis, nature, and future of deposits in sedimentary basins.
Series of 15 lectures/conferences/debates and practical/tutorial sessions
Course content / Integrated practicals / 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
Faculty of Science
Microorganisms
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This teaching unit will aim to address the elements necessary for understanding the lifestyle of large groups of single-celled organisms that form the basis of ecosystem functioning (viruses, bacteria, archaea, and single-celled eukaryotes, etc.). The courses cover the biological organization of each type of organism, their modes of reproduction, and their diversity, leading to concepts of ecology. We will discuss the role of these microorganisms in the functioning and dynamics of ecosystems, considering the interactions that these organisms have with other living beings (the concept of "symbiosis" in all its forms).
The practical work will enable:
- the implementation of techniques enabling bacterial enumeration (CFU) and the identification of a particular strain from an environmental sample
- highlighting the diversity of phytoplankton (single-celled algae) in aquatic environments (freshwater)
- highlighting the specificity of interactions between bacteria and bacteriophages
Diversity and evolution of present and past metazoans N3
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The main objective is to learn the basics of comparative anatomy of chordates, so that they can be compared and classified, before tracing the key stages of their evolutionary history. The lessons are integrative in that they draw on both current organisms and the fossil record to document the evolutionary history of the clade in its entirety and in all its aspects. Anatomical, biomechanical, phylogenetic, and ecomorphological approaches will be addressed in lectures to illustrate the diversity and major characteristics of chordates. Practical work (and tutorials) will illustrate the evolution of the diversity of integuments, the skeleton, musculature, and the digestive and respiratory systems over long periods of time.
Biological data modeling
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This course is a natural continuation of the course " Quantification of Risk " (HAV424B) presented in S4. It aims to provide the concepts for constructing experimental protocols that answer biological questions and to associate them with appropriate models for analyzing variability. The first part will be devoted to the construction of experimental protocols that can answer a multitude of questions in the life sciences, i.e., taking into account the inevitable dependence of statistical individuals, such as kinship, spatial or temporal structure of populations. This part will provide an opportunity to address the concepts of fluctuation, replication, and pseudo-replication, which will be taken into account in the models constructed in the second part of the course. The second part will focus on demonstrating the link between the experimental protocol carried out and the modeling of the variability of a quantitative response variable, through the construction of models including several qualitative or quantitative variables. Particular attention will be paid to the conditions for applying these methods, type I and II errors, methods for estimating the parameters of the models constructed (including likelihood), and the interpretation of the estimated parameters. Each concept will be illustrated by the analysis of real biological data from several topics, helping students to discover not only modern and current biological issues but also the tools developed to address them. Practical work using R will enable students to independently perform analyses on published biological cases.
English S5
ECTS
2 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Evolutionary Ecology and its applications
ECTS
1 credit
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Through five major themes, we will make the connection between the principles of evolution and evolutionary ecology seen in previous teaching units in a fundamental way and 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 oral presentation of scientific articles are held in conjunction with the course "Evolutionary Ecology and its Applications."
S6 tutored projects
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
For 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 (DAP). For the ASTEP project, students will carry out a scientific outreach project with kindergarten or elementary school classes in the Hérault region (scientific themes defined by partner schools). Students will then have to develop one or more experiments to be carried out with the classes, collect data with the students, and disseminate scientific concepts to the students concerned. For the ATD project, students will have to propose a data acquisition protocol to answer a scientific question of their choice. This protocol may be carried out in the field, in the classroom, or consist of a meta-analysis.
Diversity and phylogeny of angiosperms
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The EU aims to provide an overview of the diversity of angiosperms, approached both through the prism of the most recent phylogenies proposed bythe Angiosperm Phylogeny Group ( APG). This phylogenetic framework will be supported throughout the EU by concrete observation of the vegetative and floral characteristics of a selection of taxa distributed across the entire phylogeny, in order to identify the synapomorphies of the main clades, any homoplasies, and adaptations (floral biology, pollination, trophic interactions, etc.).
Students also learn about the diversity of angiosperms from a floristic perspective by creating a herbarium of species generally found in the Mediterranean region. This gives them an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the use of a flora and digital identification tools (Pl@ntNet, e-Flore by Tela Botanica, etc.).
Evolutionary ecology and its applications
ECTS
5 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Through five major themes, we will make the connection between the principles of evolution and evolutionary ecology seen in previous teaching units in a fundamental way and 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.
Assemblages of species from the local to the global
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Undergraduate students at the University take various introductory ecology courses during their first two years of study. In their third year, they tackle several fundamental concepts of individual adaptation to the environment and 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 continue the study of communities in line with these fundamentals, in order to illustrate the role of species' evolutionary strategies in community formation. This course will be based on a teaching sequence consisting of lectures, tutorials, and practical work in the form of field projects.
The lectures will present the basics of community ecology in three blocks. The first will concern the definition of a community and will address the history of the discipline's development through the perspectives of Gleason (1926) and Clements (1916). The second block will introduce the elements used to describe communities, with the concepts of diversity (alpha, beta, gamma) and their various indices. Finally, a third block will encourage students to reflect on the rules of assembly in communities, through the role of r/K evolutionary strategies in succession, the concepts of environmental filtering and functional similarity limitation.
These courses will run parallel to a series of tutorials organized according to a "data production-analysis-interpretation" model. Initially,serious games will be used to produce data based on simplified ecological mechanisms. To this end, several serious games that simulate communities are currently being developed. Students will collect this data in preparation for their analysis. The analysis will take the form of a computer workshop to familiarize students with diversity index calculations. Finally, time will be set aside to review the bibliography to determine whether the patterns produced throughout the sequence have biological reality and whether they have been observed in nature (independent work and report).
Once the tutorial sequence is complete, 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 practical, a workshop will allow students 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, by extension, communities) to be placed on Grime's triangle (Pierce et al., 2017). The sequence will begin with a field trip on campus: students will choose two contrasting environments (lawns, ruderal areas, woods, old walls) on which they will carry out a floristic inventory. They will then collect several individuals of each species and bring them back to the laboratory to measure various functional traits. Once the measurements have been taken, they will be able to calculate the various indices related to CSR strategy. The sequence will conclude with the writing of a report and an oral presentation. Other workshops are currently being developed.
Field methods in ecology
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The EU will provide a scenario to which students will have to respond. The EU teaching team will represent the management of consulting firms responsible for conducting impact studies following a development project.
Students will play the roles of design office experts and will be required to conduct analyses of the project area. They will be required to provide a report on their impact assessment, in which they will identify environmental issues and rank them according to their importance. They will also be required to give an oral presentation of their studies.
The EU will consist of six 2-hour tutorials at the beginning of the semester, during which the following topics will be covered:
TD1: Presentation of the EU, presentation of what an impact assessment is and what is expected of such an assessment (this part will be carried out by a professional whose job is precisely to verify impact assessments), presentation of the status of the areas studied: ZNIEFF, Natura 2000.
TD2 to 6: Presentation of analysis methods for different groups of organisms (plants, arthropods, herpetofauna, avifauna and chiroptera, soil fauna, etc.).
For the rest of the EU, students will have to propose study protocols to estimate the potential impacts of the planned project. The protocols put in place will have to enable the impacts to be assessed as accurately as possible, and the studies will have to budget for their interventions. They will then have field sessions to implement their protocol, collect data and analyze it. The teaching team will mentor the groups to guide them in their work. They will write a thesis based on specifications provided by the teaching team. This deliverable must be supported by field data and data from the bibliography. They will defend their case before the teaching team in an oral presentation.
Several study areas were targeted in Montpellier to carry out the work: Triolet Campus, Mosson River, Vallet Park, Montpellier City Center, Meric Park, Banks of the Lez, Garrigues de la Lauze, etc.
Biodiversity conservation: ethics, threats, restoration
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This EU is an initial approach to conservation science from the perspectives of different stakeholders:
- scientific approach: fundamental and practical approach to the conservation and restoration of populations and communities
- Societal approach : the role of scientists in managing species and ecological environments, and interactions with other conservation stakeholders (managers, local actors)
- Ethical approach : reflection on the values of biodiversity (quantifiable, preferential, normative) and their applications according to different models, placed in a historical context (mainly ecosystem services and sustainable development).
Modeling living organisms: applications
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This introductory course will build on the mathematical tools encountered throughout the bachelor's degree program, particularly in the Modeling of Living Systems: Theory course (S4 option), in order to provide an overview of the different approaches and techniques used in modeling living systems. All major families of mathematical models will be covered: static (optimization problems, game theory) and dynamic (extensions of the systems seen in S4, introduction to stochastic processes). The examples of applications of these models will be diverse, covering many biological systems as well as different levels of organization (metabolic, epidemiological, meta-community models, etc.). Particular attention will be paid to epistemological aspects (the contribution of modeling to the construction of theories in the life sciences) and practical aspects (identifiability, calibration, and parametric sensitivity on the one hand, numerical implementation/simulations on the other). Finally, it will be an opportunity for students to familiarize themselves with research topics involving modeling, developed in the Montpellier area.
Naturalist project
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This course unit is structured around a professional inventory approach, during which students will be placed in real-life situations to showcase their naturalist skills. This will consist of fieldwork, with a focus on field supervision through SPS for project monitoring. In this respect, it follows the logic of the former CMI (Opus 4).
Eight groups of five students will work on cataloging a specific taxon as part of a clearly identified scientific issue. The study area will vary from year to year and will be chosen by the teaching team based on opportunities for collaboration with organizations interested in the proposed approach. The organizations being approached are:
- the Conservatory of Natural Areas of Languedoc Roussillon
- Lunaret Zoo, manager of the Lez nature reserve
- the city of Montpellier
The presentation will consist of a joint deliverable for the entire class, including a ranking of conservation issues. The management organizations for the areas studied will be invited to attend the presentations.
Paleoecology and biostratigraphy
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The aim of this EU is to acquire, reinforce, and synthesize concepts and knowledge in evolutionary paleontology, sedimentology, and paleoecology, in order to apply them to the fossil world. Taken together, these concepts provide the keys to inferring the stratigraphic context and past environments in which extinct organisms lived.
Naturalist project
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This course unit is structured around a professional inventory approach, during which students will be placed in real-life situations to showcase their naturalist skills. This will consist of fieldwork, with a focus on field supervision through SPS for project monitoring. In this respect, it follows the logic of the former CMI (Opus 4).
Eight groups of five students will work on cataloging a specific taxon as part of a clearly identified scientific issue. The study area will vary from year to year and will be chosen by the teaching team based on opportunities for collaboration with organizations interested in the proposed approach. The organizations being approached are:
- the Conservatory of Natural Areas of Languedoc Roussillon
- Lunaret Zoo, manager of the Lez nature reserve
- the city of Montpellier
The presentation will consist of a joint deliverable for the entire class, including a ranking of conservation issues. The management organizations for the areas studied will be invited to attend the presentations.
Field methods in ecology
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The EU will provide a scenario to which students will have to respond. The EU teaching team will represent the management of consulting firms responsible for conducting impact studies following a development project.
Students will play the roles of design office experts and will be required to conduct analyses of the project area. They will be required to provide a report on their impact assessment, in which they will identify environmental issues and rank them according to their importance. They will also be required to give an oral presentation of their studies.
The EU will consist of six 2-hour tutorials at the beginning of the semester, during which the following topics will be covered:
TD1: Presentation of the EU, presentation of what an impact assessment is and what is expected of such an assessment (this part will be carried out by a professional whose job is precisely to verify impact assessments), presentation of the status of the areas studied: ZNIEFF, Natura 2000.
TD2 to 6: Presentation of analysis methods for different groups of organisms (plants, arthropods, herpetofauna, avifauna and chiroptera, soil fauna, etc.).
For the rest of the EU, students will have to propose study protocols to estimate the potential impacts of the planned project. The protocols put in place will have to enable the impacts to be assessed as accurately as possible, and the studies will have to budget for their interventions. They will then have field sessions to implement their protocol, collect data and analyze it. The teaching team will mentor the groups to guide them in their work. They will write a thesis based on specifications provided by the teaching team. This deliverable must be supported by field data and data from the bibliography. They will defend their case before the teaching team in an oral presentation.
Several study areas were targeted in Montpellier to carry out the work: Triolet Campus, Mosson River, Vallet Park, Montpellier City Center, Meric Park, Banks of the Lez, Garrigues de la Lauze, etc.
Forest ecology
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Biodiversity conservation: ethics, threats, restoration
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This EU is an initial approach to conservation science from the perspectives of different stakeholders:
- scientific approach: fundamental and practical approach to the conservation and restoration of populations and communities
- Societal approach : the role of scientists in managing species and ecological environments, and interactions with other conservation stakeholders (managers, local actors)
- Ethical approach : reflection on the values of biodiversity (quantifiable, preferential, normative) and their applications according to different models, placed in a historical context (mainly ecosystem services and sustainable development).
Mathematical modeling of living organisms
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Paleoecology and biostratigraphy
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Architecture and morphogenesis of the whole plant
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Introduce students to an integrated approach to plants by studying the morphological and anatomical characteristics of stems and roots. Help them discover the coordinated spatial and temporal construction of root and stem architectures through adaptations of Mediterranean and tropical species. Reproductive structures and the diversity of biological types will also be taken into account. This course unit is designed to prepare students for the BioGET Master's program and draws on the natural environment and local and regional infrastructure (Amazonian Greenhouse, Villa Thuret, Château La Pérouse Garden).
Aquatic ecology
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This course provides an introduction to the ecology of continental freshwater ecosystems and marine ecosystems, as well as to the interface environments between these two compartments, namely mangroves, estuaries, and deltas. They will be approached from the perspective of both their structure and their functioning, emphasizing their similarities and differences, as well as 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 teaching, while the second part consists of introductory sessions to field trips, the field trips themselves, and practical sessions in which the data collected in the field is analyzed and shared.
Introduction to Molecular Ecology
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Molecular tools are an integral part of studies aimed at describing and characterizing biodiversity. The EU will aim to present various molecular approaches (barcoding, metabarcoding, environmental DNA, etc.) that enable (1) the description, characterization, and quantification of this diversity at intra- or interspecific, population, or ecosystem levels, and (2) the presentation of their areas of application at different timescales and spatial scales. The EU will incorporate practical aspects aimed at learning about and implementing these techniques, analyzing the resulting data, and reporting on them. Group work in interaction with researchers and teacher-researchers will be prioritized.
Phylogeny of mammals
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
One of the goals of this course unit is to synthesize concepts and knowledge acquired in animal biology (anatomy, systematics) and ecology in order to describe and understand the morphology and evolution of vertebrate morphologies. In addition to covering current groups, this course will focus heavily on extinct fossil groups, particularly their contribution to understanding the various eco-morphological adaptations (e.g., acquisition or return to aquatic life, acquisition of flight) that have marked the evolutionary history of clades.
This course also aims to provide theoretical and practical foundations in phylogenetics (cladistics) for tracing the evolution of a clade (distance, parsimony, and likelihood methods), based on both molecular and phenotypic characters (current and fossil).
Adaptations to Parasitism
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Adaptations to the "parasitic" lifestyle are studied across all parasitic organisms (viruses, bacteria, eukaryotes), including different scales of analysis "from molecules to populations."
Thus, the co-evolution between hosts and parasites will be considered from the perspective of molecular and cellular host-parasite interactions (immunity, escape, exploitation of host resources, etc.), but also from the perspective of the morpho-anatomical structures involved in adaptation to the intra-host site or in survival in the external environment, and finally from the perspective of behavioral adaptations for encountering the host (promotion).
Tools and methods for reconstructing paleoenvironments
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
ORPAL is an ecology course in APP (1/3 fieldwork and 2/3 lab work). Based on ecological concepts and methods, this course aims to explore historical ecology (the study of interactions between humans and their environment over varying time periods) and its main applications in paleoecology, from defining the issue field sampling, data acquisition, to interpretation and writing a scientific article (see https://biologie-ecologie.com/exemples-travaux/). This course is an interesting theoretical and experimental prerequisite for the ACCES, CEPAGE, PALEONTOLOGY, ECOSYSTEMS, or BIOGET programs.
Meteorology, climatology, and the water cycle
ECTS
2 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
- difference between weather and climate
- structure of the atmosphere, 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 definition of climates
- current climate change
- global water cycle, hydrological balance, water balance, energy balance above a cultivated plot to estimate evapotranspiration
Meteorology/climatology/environment
ECTS
2 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Hours per week
16,5h
Understanding the weather and knowing how to use climate data for an ecologist/naturalist.
- climate measurement methods, bioclimate indices;
- Computer lab: climate data, modern archives (century), oscillations, and trends;
- weather reminders, dominant parameters: from large biomes to topoclimate;
- average climate vs. extreme events, their roles and impacts on biodiversity;
- Group work (presentation): regional topics, shared oral presentation;
- Past and future climate change and its impact on biodiversity.
Science communication
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
At the end of this course, students will have acquired the basic knowledge necessary to prepare and carry out scientific communication activities tailored to a target audience, both orally and in writing. They will also be able to design educational materials and awareness-raising workshops for the general public.
Educational project setup UniverlaCité program
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Universities are often perceived as inaccessible places for a large part of society. As part of the UniverlaCité program, which aims to bring the university to priority neighborhoods, students will develop science workshops for schoolchildren in priority education areas.
The EU will offer students the opportunity to:
1- share their own experiences and leverage the knowledge they have acquired at university in order to best meet the needs of society.
2- Reveal and develop scientific communication skills through the development and implementation of educational materials tailored to the target audience.
The EU will take the form of tutorials and project monitoring (SPS) on predefined topics. The socio-cultural situation of sensitive urban areas will be addressed during the first tutorial. This first tutorial will also serve to lay the foundations for the EU, present the UniverlaCité program in detail, and give a broad overview of scientific mediation.
The following tutorials will serve as sessions during which students, divided into groups, will be asked to propose activities to be implemented. The constraints imposed on them by the teaching team will be: the target audience, the theme (which will be defined by the teaching team and renewed each year), and the need to propose activities outside the school grounds.
Health, environment, and global changes
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The major human and animal health challenges linked 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 artificialization of living environments
- new therapeutic approaches
- globalization of trade
- the standardization of lifestyles
Science and Society: history of science, ethics, critical thinking
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Science in today's societies is at the heart of many ethical, economic, and societal issues. The aim of this course is to encourage students to reflect on their knowledge and practices through a historical approach to the construction of knowledge and through reflections on the bioethical aspects of science, the place of researchers in society, and the relationship between science and society. The aim is to raise students' awareness of the use of scientific arguments in society and to encourage them to debate and confront contradictory points of view, thereby developing their critical thinking skills. This is therefore an open-minded course unit that allows students to take a broader view while maintaining a scientific approach, in other words, to "look up from the handlebars."
- 7CM = 10.5 hours for History of Science, panhistorical and pangeographical approach
- 4 CM = 6 hours to present the concepts of bioethics and critical thinking that will be necessary for the debates (methodology of controversy, complexity, issues, arguments from authority)
- 2CM= 3 hours on the role of scientists in society (historical approach and discussion of potential pitfalls)
- 2TD = 3 hours on cognitive biases, concepts of epistemology, language traps, and the concept of proof, major types of flawed reasoning
- 4 sessions of 2TD = 4x3 hours = 12 hours of debates 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 experimentation, neuroscience and marketing, biological control, nanotechnologies, etc. Starting with a press article, students work in groups to produce a presentation (which counts towards their assessment) with the aim of providing historical context, presenting opposing viewpoints (ethical and scientific arguments), and then leading a debate. Each debate session (3 hours) will have a theme, and researchers or ECs will be invited to participate in the jury and provide a summary at the end.
In groups and over the course of the EU, students will produce a bibliographic summary on a topic of their choice, with a structured argument, illustrated with carefully chosen examples, placing the subject in the context of the history of science with bioethical considerations. The idea is not simply to recount the history of a subject, but rather to emphasize the links with the advancement of scientific knowledge and the ethical questions raised.
Science communication
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
At the end of this course, students will have acquired the basic knowledge necessary to prepare and carry out scientific communication activities tailored to a target audience, both orally and in writing. They will also be able to design educational materials and awareness-raising workshops for the general public.
Science and Society: history of science, ethics, spirit
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Educational project setup UniverlaCité program
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Universities are often perceived as inaccessible places for a large part of society. As part of the UniverlaCité program, which aims to bring the university to priority neighborhoods, students will develop science workshops for schoolchildren in priority education areas.
The EU will offer students the opportunity to:
1- share their own experiences and leverage the knowledge they have acquired at university in order to best meet the needs of society.
2- Reveal and develop scientific communication skills through the development and implementation of educational materials tailored to the target audience.
The EU will take the form of tutorials and project monitoring (SPS) on predefined topics. The socio-cultural situation of sensitive urban areas will be addressed during the first tutorial. This first tutorial will also serve to lay the foundations for the EU, present the UniverlaCité program in detail, and give a broad overview of scientific mediation.
The following tutorials will serve as sessions during which students, divided into groups, will be asked to propose activities to be implemented. The constraints imposed on them by the teaching team will be: the target audience, the theme (which will be defined by the teaching team and renewed each year), and the need to propose activities outside the school grounds.
Health, environment, and global changes
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The major human and animal health challenges linked 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 artificialization of living environments
- new therapeutic approaches
- globalization of trade
- the standardization of lifestyles
Immunology (from response to infection to autoimmune diseases)
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This EU is a logical continuation of the S4 EU (Fundamentals of Physiology and Immunology) and aims to deepen knowledge of fundamental, applied, and clinical immunology. We will also address "unconventional" concepts in immunology and develop innovative immunotherapy strategies. This course unit will cover all topics related to modern immunology and will be strongly oriented towards the clinical aspects of this discipline.
Keywords
Fundamental immunology, Anti-infectious immunity, Immunotherapy, Vaccination, Autoimmunity, Immune deficiencies, Anti-cancer immunity, Non-conventional immunity
English S5
ECTS
2 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Molecular Biology
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
5 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Molecular biology is not only a fascinating subject in its own right, but it also provides other biological disciplines (cell biology, genetics, physiology, etc.) with fantastic tools for modifying and quantifying genes and their products.
The EU is deepening its understanding of the mechanisms involved in 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 interactions between them explain the functioning of eukaryotic cells and their adaptation to the environment and the development of organisms.
At the same time, the main techniques used to monitor or modify gene expression, or to study the mechanisms of this expression, will be presented in lectures and explored in greater depth in tutorials through the analysis of results.
Thus, the tutorials address these topics in the form of (1) exercises that allow students to test their understanding of the knowledge described above, and (2) experiments taken from scientific articles for analysis. In this way, the fundamentals of scientific reasoning and critical analysis of results will be acquired and/or further developed.
Biotechnology S5
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This teaching unit covers the different categories of biotechnology according to their field of application:
- Plant biotechnology concerns the agri-food industry and encompasses a range of technologies that use plants and plant cells to produce and transform food products, biomaterials, and energy, as well as recombinant proteins for therapeutic purposes.
- Animal biotechnology covers the fields of health, medicine, diagnostics, tissue engineering, and 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 agri-food/pharmaceutical industry, as well as their role in environmental protection.
The teaching offered to students in the Bachelor's Degree in Life Sciences enables them to discover or deepen their theoretical knowledge of different biotechnologies and to master the associated tools/applications.
Microbiology 3
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
5 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This course unit aims to deepen students' knowledge of microbiology for those who wish to pursue further studies in this discipline.
She will discuss molecular genetics applied to prokaryotes (mobile genetic elements and resistance, CRISPR, 2-component system, quorum sensing, horizontal transfers, etc.) and the specificities of bacterial metabolism.
Bacteria with a particular morphology will be presented.
In virology, the pathophysiology of viral infections, as well as the prevention and control of viral diseases, will be presented. Mechanisms of immune evasion will be detailed. 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 obligatory intracellular development and the changes in the host cell induced by these parasites.
Finally, the EU will address the concept of microbiota and present the latest data on the nature of human microbiota and its role in health.
Integrated Cellular Metabolism
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
5 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This course unit allows students to deepen their knowledge of metabolism. It provides a comprehensive overview of human metabolism, emphasizing the links between different metabolic pathways. It also shows how different tissues communicate to maintain overall energy homeostasis. Disruptions in this metabolism that cause certain diseases will be presented.
Pedagogy and Didactics of Biotechnology
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
5 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This is an introductory course to teaching biotechnology, preparing students for their observation internship in a technical high school in semester 6. This course covers concepts that will be developed further for students in the MEEF (Teaching, Education, and Training Professions) Biotechnology Master's program preparing for the CAPET Biotechnology with a specialization in Biochemistry and Biological Engineering. This course, combined with the high school internship in semester 6, also helps students choose their career path.
During lectures/tutorials, several questions concerning the teaching and learning of science and biotechnology are addressed:
- What are the principles, tools, and teaching methods used in the technology track?
- How to design teaching in STL-Biotechnology and STS?
- How are the programs and standards structured?
- What are the terms and conditions for certification assessment in the final cycle and in STS?
- How does a general and technological high school work?
Infection & Immunity
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
3 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Bacteriology:
Through various examples, students will gain a better understanding of the concept of pathogenicity in relation to bacterial virulence. The means and mechanisms used to manipulate the body's cells at the mucosal level in order to penetrate the internal environment, i.e., invasive power, will be discussed, as well as the perception of environmental signals and the integration of these signals in order to coordinate the response of prokaryotes so that they adopt group behavior. The description of a few examples of toxins and modulins related to colonization and/or invasion will provide a better understanding of the differences in strategies between prokaryotic pathogens. Finally, the concept of microbiota and its influence on the functioning of the organism, as well as its involvement in the development of certain pathologies, will be discussed.
Immunology:
The Immunology section covers the basics of how the immune system works during infection. From the initiation and progression of the inflammatory response when non-self signals are recognized by the innate immune system (PRR-PAMP) to the mechanisms of cell activation and the cellular responses generated, we can appreciate the diversity of possibilities offered by the various players in immunity. In addition, the sequence of events leading to the orientation of the immune response and the acquisition of lasting protection during the adaptive phase will provide a better understanding of the vaccine strategy. Finally, intestinal mucosal immunity will be discussed in the context of the relationship between the host and the microbiota.
Practical Work in Molecular Biology
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
6 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The molecular biology practical aims to enable students to work independently with molecular biology protocols and introduce them to hypothesis-driven research. Students will have six days to respond to a biological problem that will be presented to them. This will allow them to put some of the techniques covered in their theoretical classes into practice in a laboratory setting, thereby gaining a better understanding of them.
Molecular Engineering
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
Training structure
Faculty of Science
As part of this course, students will learn experimental principles based on the manipulation of nucleic acids. Lectures will focus on two main areas:
- Implementation of molecular tools (cloning, nucleic acid analysis, vectorology) ii. Their applications (recombinant protein expression, genomic banking, transgenesis, CRISPR/CAS9 system, etc.) and reflection on the concept of ethics in biology.
The tutorials will consist of:
- Analysis of articles presenting issues to be resolved using the knowledge acquired in the course. The topics chosen will, as far as possible, refer to parallel L3 teaching units. These articles will be presented by students in the form of oral presentations by groups of 3 to 4 students to the whole class.
- Sessions reserved for the use of basic bioinformatics tools in the computer lab.
Molecular tools dedicated to detection and diagnosis
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The aim of the course is to review molecular identification techniques, with a focus on biomarkers, advances in the latest generations of biomarkers and selective membranes, and new instrumentation.
Molecular diagnostic techniques / mass approaches.
Biosynthesis of Ag receptors in B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes
Antigen-antibody reactions
Immunological techniques
FACS principle
Proteomics, 2D, LC-MS, MS-MS. Degradome...
Genetics & Epigenetics
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
From the same genome, the different cells that make up a multicellular organism will acquire different cellular destinies in order to acquire distinct cellular functions. In addition to the genome, epigenetic regulations governing the control of genome expression will be crucial in establishing phenotypes. The objective of this course is to teach the concepts and methodologies used to study the transmission of hereditary information via epigenetic mechanisms.
Observation internship at a technical high school
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
5 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Observation internship in high school in STL-Biotechnology and/or STS in applied biology under the supervision of a teacher tutor in Biochemistry and Biological Engineering. This course unit, which follows on from the course unit on Pedagogy and Didactics of Biotechnology, provides an initial insight into the realities of the teaching profession. This course unit covers concepts that will be developed further for students in the Master's program in Teaching, Education, and Training (MEEF) in Biotechnology, who are preparing for the CAPET (Certificate of Aptitude for Teaching) in Biotechnology with a specialization in Biochemistry and Biological Engineering. This course unit, combined with that of semester 5, also helps students with their career orientation.
The information gathered during the internship and its processing will be the subject of a written report and an oral defense at the end of the semester.
Virology
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The EU aims to acquire knowledge of fundamental and applied virology, with a focus on an integrative approach to the discipline. It will present the specificities of host-virus interactions and the pathophysiology of viral infections in different types of hosts (vertebrates/insects/plants). It will address aspects of viral ecology, emergence, and associated risks to human and animal health. Finally, the EU will present the research methods used, virological detection and diagnostic tools, and applications of viruses in biotechnology.
The EU will be taught in the form of lectures, tutorials (analysis of current scientific articles and oral presentations) and practical work illustrating the lectures and tutorials (virus amplification and purification and quantification using reference techniques).
Structural Biochemistry
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This course offers an in-depth study of the structural biochemistry of biomolecules, particularly proteins and nucleic acids.
The basic concepts and nomenclature used for analyzing 3D protein structures are briefly reviewed (Ramachandran diagram, 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 detailed according to 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 different structures and functions of nucleic acids are studied. Protein-nucleic acid complexes are described from a structural point of view (main recognition motifs, etc.) and the concepts of recognition specificity are detailed.
This teaching is illustrated in tutorials. These tutorials consist of familiarizing students with the main databases used in structural biology, as well as with the PyMol software for analyzing 3D structures.
Communication Techniques and Scientific English
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This course describes the methodology used by life science researchers to communicate the results of their experiments, both in writing and orally. As English is the common language of international researchers, a large part of this course is taught in English.
Written communication is addressed through the study of the (macro) structure of a research article and an examination of the publication process in scientific journals. Several elements of written structure (micro) are examined in order to understand the differences between scientific English and literary English: clarity, cohesion, and coherence.
These studies are supplemented by a supervised project during the semester, in which students are required to analyze a research article recently published in scientific literature and transcribe it in the form of an oral presentation (conference) in English.
English S5
ECTS
2 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Molecular Biology
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
5 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Molecular biology is not only a fascinating subject in its own right, but it also provides other biological disciplines (cell biology, genetics, physiology, etc.) with fantastic tools for modifying and quantifying genes and their products.
The EU is deepening its understanding of the mechanisms involved in 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 interactions between them explain the functioning of eukaryotic cells and their adaptation to the environment and the development of organisms.
At the same time, the main techniques used to monitor or modify gene expression, or to study the mechanisms of this expression, will be presented in lectures and explored in greater depth in tutorials through the analysis of results.
Thus, the tutorials address these topics in the form of (1) exercises that allow students to test their understanding of the knowledge described above, and (2) experiments taken from scientific articles for analysis. In this way, the fundamentals of scientific reasoning and critical analysis of results will be acquired and/or further developed.
Functional genetics
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
5 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Functional genetics aims to better understand the relationships between genotype and phenotype. This course integrates the various aspects of gene and genome function analysis at the whole-genome level using in vivo approaches, as well as transcriptional regulation and regulation of eukaryotic genome expression. The course is illustrated with concrete examples in developmental genetics in physiological and pathological contexts.
Integrated Cellular Metabolism
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
5 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This course unit allows students to deepen their knowledge of metabolism. It provides a comprehensive overview of human metabolism, emphasizing the links between different metabolic pathways. It also shows how different tissues communicate to maintain overall energy homeostasis. Disruptions in this metabolism that cause certain diseases will be presented.
Advanced Cell Biology 1: Experimental Approaches
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
5 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This compulsory course for the "Molecular and Cellular Biology" program aims to deepen and supplement, mainly through tutorials and practicals, the fundamental molecular and cellular processes covered in the BCM2, BCM3, and Advanced Cellular and Molecular Biology courses by addressing them in greater depth. These classes will focus on the topics of intracellular trafficking, cell cycle, and apoptosis, continuing on from the BCM3 course.
Group work will be carried out in tutorials, during which students will be required to analyze a scientific article and produce a structured summary specifying the context of the study, the specific scientific question posed by the authors, the strategies implemented, and the techniques used to answer it. The aim of this work is to help prepare students for writing their TER reports and Master's internship reports.
The tutorials and practicals will be carried out in an integrated manner on the same topics as those covered in the lectures. The tutorials will be directly linked to the practicals. Students will be required to ask a question related to a cellular mechanism and, in accordance with the scientific approach, propose an experimental strategy to answer it. The practicals will enable students to apply this strategy by integrating 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
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This compulsory S6 unit explores the fundamental processes of embryonic development.
All the major stages of embryogenesis will be covered, such as axis formation, gastrulation, neurulation, 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 systematically make connections between its various disciplines, as well as with the material taught in genetics courses.
The lectures will present the main principles, focusing on the two best-understood models of development in vertebrates (amphibians) and invertebrates (flies), including a historical perspective, while the tutorials will focus on evolutionary aspects (comparison of different modes of development and understanding the logic of evolutionary constraints), as well as experimental approaches to modern molecular and cellular developmental biology.
Practical Work in Molecular Biology
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
6 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The molecular biology practical aims to enable students to work independently with molecular biology protocols and introduce them to hypothesis-driven research. Students will have six days to respond to a biological problem that will be presented to them. This will allow them to put some of the techniques covered in their theoretical classes into practice in a laboratory setting, thereby gaining a better understanding of them.
Molecular Engineering
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
Training structure
Faculty of Science
As part of this course, students will learn experimental principles based on the manipulation of nucleic acids. Lectures will focus on two main areas:
- Implementation of molecular tools (cloning, nucleic acid analysis, vectorology) ii. Their applications (recombinant protein expression, genomic banking, transgenesis, CRISPR/CAS9 system, etc.) and reflection on the concept of ethics in biology.
The tutorials will consist of:
- Analysis of articles presenting issues to be resolved using the knowledge acquired in the course. The topics chosen will, as far as possible, refer to parallel L3 teaching units. These articles will be presented by students in the form of oral presentations by groups of 3 to 4 students to the whole class.
- Sessions reserved for the use of basic bioinformatics tools in the computer lab.
Advanced Cell Biology 2: Key Concepts
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
5 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This course unit aims, in both lecture and tutorial formats, to supplement the concepts of cell biology covered in L2 in BCM2 and BCM3 through the study of physiological and pathological conditions such as cancer.
These courses will introduce students to the importance of finding a suitable model system (cell lines or organisms for in vivo studies (Drosophila, C. elegans, zebrafish)) for answering a question and demonstrating a molecular mechanism.
The tutorials will enable students to work with advanced concepts in cell biology in conjunction with knowledge of the most commonly used methodologies in cell biology, such as flow cytometry, advanced fluorescence microscopy and electron microscopy techniques, proteomics, and knowledge of experimental models such as cultured cells, genetically modified and non-genetically modified animal models (C. elegans, zebrafish, transgenic mice, KO, KI, etc.). zebrafish, transgenic mice, KO, KI, etc.).
Genetics & Epigenetics
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
From the same genome, the different cells that make up a multicellular organism will acquire different cellular destinies in order to acquire distinct cellular functions. In addition to the genome, epigenetic regulations governing the control of genome expression will be crucial in establishing phenotypes. The objective of this course is to teach the concepts and methodologies used to study the transmission of hereditary information via epigenetic mechanisms.
Project or internship
ECTS
3 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The terms and conditions of this course unit are specifically tailored to the different L3 programs. However, 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/company or a supervised project with a tutor working in a laboratory or company associated with biology.
Virology
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The EU aims to acquire knowledge of fundamental and applied virology, with a focus on an integrative approach to the discipline. It will present the specificities of host-virus interactions and the pathophysiology of viral infections in different types of hosts (vertebrates/insects/plants). It will address aspects of viral ecology, emergence, and associated risks to human and animal health. Finally, the EU will present the research methods used, virological detection and diagnostic tools, and applications of viruses in biotechnology.
The EU will be taught in the form of lectures, tutorials (analysis of current scientific articles and oral presentations) and practical work illustrating the lectures and tutorials (virus amplification and purification and quantification using reference techniques).
A practical approach to bacterial biodiversity
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
6 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This practical work unit aims to apply students' 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 stages: 1) isolation of the bacterial flora; 2) diagnosis of family and genus using conventional media and tests; 3) diagnosis of species using API System galleries.
Molecular biology techniques now make it possible to identify bacteria present in a sample without the need for culture. This approach requires access to a sequencing platform and will also be carried out in practical work, allowing the two approaches to be compared. The sequencing results obtained will enable bioinformatic analysis of the rrsA gene specifying the 16S RNA of the isolated bacteria.
Communication Techniques and Scientific English
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This course describes the methodology used by life science researchers to communicate the results of their experiments, both in writing and orally. As English is the common language of international researchers, a large part of this course is taught in English.
Written communication is addressed through the study of the (macro) structure of a research article and an examination of the publication process in scientific journals. Several elements of written structure (micro) are examined in order to understand the differences between scientific English and literary English: clarity, cohesion, and coherence.
These studies are supplemented by a supervised project during the semester, in which students are required to analyze a research article recently published in scientific literature and transcribe it in the form of an oral presentation (conference) in English.
Immunology (from response to infection to autoimmune diseases)
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This EU is a logical continuation of the S4 EU (Fundamentals of Physiology and Immunology) and aims to deepen knowledge of fundamental, applied, and clinical immunology. We will also address "unconventional" concepts in immunology and develop innovative immunotherapy strategies. This course unit will cover all topics related to modern immunology and will be strongly oriented towards the clinical aspects of this discipline.
Keywords
Fundamental immunology, Anti-infectious immunity, Immunotherapy, Vaccination, Autoimmunity, Immune deficiencies, Anti-cancer immunity, Non-conventional immunity
English S5
ECTS
2 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Molecular Biology
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
5 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Molecular biology is not only a fascinating subject in its own right, but it also provides other biological disciplines (cell biology, genetics, physiology, etc.) with fantastic tools for modifying and quantifying genes and their products.
The EU is deepening its understanding of the mechanisms involved in 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 interactions between them explain the functioning of eukaryotic cells and their adaptation to the environment and the development of organisms.
At the same time, the main techniques used to monitor or modify gene expression, or to study the mechanisms of this expression, will be presented in lectures and explored in greater depth in tutorials through the analysis of results.
Thus, the tutorials address these topics in the form of (1) exercises that allow students to test their understanding of the knowledge described above, and (2) experiments taken from scientific articles for analysis. In this way, the fundamentals of scientific reasoning and critical analysis of results will be acquired and/or further developed.
Biotechnology S5
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This teaching unit covers the different categories of biotechnology according to their field of application:
- Plant biotechnology concerns the agri-food industry and encompasses a range of technologies that use plants and plant cells to produce and transform food products, biomaterials, and energy, as well as recombinant proteins for therapeutic purposes.
- Animal biotechnology covers the fields of health, medicine, diagnostics, tissue engineering, and 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 agri-food/pharmaceutical industry, as well as their role in environmental protection.
The teaching offered to students in the Bachelor's Degree in Life Sciences enables them to discover or deepen their theoretical knowledge of different biotechnologies and to master the associated tools/applications.
Microbiology 3
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
5 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This course unit aims to deepen students' knowledge of microbiology for those who wish to pursue further studies in this discipline.
She will discuss molecular genetics applied to prokaryotes (mobile genetic elements and resistance, CRISPR, 2-component system, quorum sensing, horizontal transfers, etc.) and the specificities of bacterial metabolism.
Bacteria with a particular morphology will be presented.
In virology, the pathophysiology of viral infections, as well as the prevention and control of viral diseases, will be presented. Mechanisms of immune evasion will be detailed. 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 obligatory intracellular development and the changes in the host cell induced by these parasites.
Finally, the EU will address the concept of microbiota and present the latest data on the nature of human microbiota and its role in health.
Infection & Immunity
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
3 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Bacteriology:
Through various examples, students will gain a better understanding of the concept of pathogenicity in relation to bacterial virulence. The means and mechanisms used to manipulate the body's cells at the mucosal level in order to penetrate the internal environment, i.e., invasive power, will be discussed, as well as the perception of environmental signals and the integration of these signals in order to coordinate the response of prokaryotes so that they adopt group behavior. The description of a few examples of toxins and modulins related to colonization and/or invasion will provide a better understanding of the differences in strategies between prokaryotic pathogens. Finally, the concept of microbiota and its influence on the functioning of the organism, as well as its involvement in the development of certain pathologies, will be discussed.
Immunology:
The Immunology section covers the basics of how the immune system works during infection. From the initiation and progression of the inflammatory response when non-self signals are recognized by the innate immune system (PRR-PAMP) to the mechanisms of cell activation and the cellular responses generated, we can appreciate the diversity of possibilities offered by the various players in immunity. In addition, the sequence of events leading to the orientation of the immune response and the acquisition of lasting protection during the adaptive phase will provide a better understanding of the 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
Training structure
Faculty of Science
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 and the experimental and theoretical approaches that led to their establishment. 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, and how how Etienne Geoffroy Saint Hilaire's concept of "unity of plan of organization" gave rise to evolutionary paleontology, developmental biology, and evolution/development (Evo/Devo).
In the context of bioethical issues, we will address problems such as the distortion of a concept (from craniology to eugenics) and the cases of Georges Cuvier and Trophim Lysenko, where religious or political ideology interfered with science.
Finally, biological philosophy will lead us to discuss the value of models in biology and the "end of genetics" (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.
Practical Work in Molecular Biology
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
6 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The molecular biology practical aims to enable students to work independently with molecular biology protocols and introduce them to hypothesis-driven research. Students will have six days to respond to a biological problem that will be presented to them. This will allow them to put some of the techniques covered in their theoretical classes into practice in a laboratory setting, thereby gaining a better understanding of them.
Microbial ecology
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The courses will cover the fundamentals and principles of microbial ecology (microbial biodiversity; cultivable/uncultivable microorganisms; major microbial groups, key microbial functions and biogeochemical cycles, microbial metabolisms in the environment and environmental applications, ecology fundamentals applicable to microorganisms (microbial interactions, free-living, competition, collaboration, symbiosis , parasitism and their applications). The following will be covered in particular by way of illustration:
- viruses: the concept of emergence and reemergence
-Vibrio bacteria, virulence factors, host adaptation, and horizontal transfer
-streptococci, comparative genomics, genome reduction, specialization
Applications of microbial ecology to biotechnology will concern: detection, inoculum production, bioproductions, bioremediation, and water treatment using concrete examples (development of multi-pathogen detection tools that take mutation into account, production of a flavor enhancer by a soil corynebacterium, applications of the study of microbial interactions to the selection of cheese flavors, quality index of wine-growing soil, etc.).
Lab work: water analysis, principles, standards, applications: total 6 hours
TD/personal work based on the results of the practical work: design of a water purification model in a real-life situation (cadastral data, topological survey, total fecal coliform load from practical work, student presentations on the different types of (micro)water treatment plants, etc.). The aim is to propose a conceptual solution adapted to the specific case.
Molecular Engineering
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
Training structure
Faculty of Science
As part of this course, students will learn experimental principles based on the manipulation of nucleic acids. Lectures will focus on two main areas:
- Implementation of molecular tools (cloning, nucleic acid analysis, vectorology) ii. Their applications (recombinant protein expression, genomic banking, transgenesis, CRISPR/CAS9 system, etc.) and reflection on the concept of ethics in biology.
The tutorials will consist of:
- Analysis of articles presenting issues to be resolved using the knowledge acquired in the course. The topics chosen will, as far as possible, refer to parallel L3 teaching units. These articles will be presented by students in the form of oral presentations by groups of 3 to 4 students to the whole class.
- Sessions reserved for the use of basic bioinformatics tools in the computer lab.
Microbiology of eukaryotes
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This EU aims to deepen knowledge of eukaryotic microorganisms and explore in particular the diversity of free-living or parasitic eukaryotic unicellular organisms. This diversity will be studied not only from a theoretical but also from a practical point of view. The specific characteristics of the development and lifestyle of four single-celled microorganisms (the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum, the ciliate Tetrahymena, and the apicomplexan parasites Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium falciparum) will be studied during practical work sessions, illustrating the concepts covered in lectures and tutorials.
Project or internship
ECTS
3 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The terms and conditions of this course unit are specifically tailored to the different L3 programs. However, 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/company or a supervised project with a tutor working in a laboratory or company associated with biology.
Virology
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The EU aims to acquire knowledge of fundamental and applied virology, with a focus on an integrative approach to the discipline. It will present the specificities of host-virus interactions and the pathophysiology of viral infections in different types of hosts (vertebrates/insects/plants). It will address aspects of viral ecology, emergence, and associated risks to human and animal health. Finally, the EU will present the research methods used, virological detection and diagnostic tools, and applications of viruses in biotechnology.
The EU will be taught in the form of lectures, tutorials (analysis of current scientific articles and oral presentations) and practical work illustrating the lectures and tutorials (virus amplification and purification and quantification using reference techniques).
Communication Techniques and Scientific English
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This course describes the methodology used by life science researchers to communicate the results of their experiments, both in writing and orally. As English is the common language of international researchers, a large part of this course is taught in English.
Written communication is addressed through the study of the (macro) structure of a research article and an examination of the publication process in scientific journals. Several elements of written structure (micro) are examined in order to understand the differences between scientific English and literary English: clarity, cohesion, and coherence.
These studies are supplemented by a supervised project during the semester, in which students are required to analyze a research article recently published in scientific literature and transcribe it in the form of an oral presentation (conference) in English.
Practical Work in Animal Physiology
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Through practical work sessions, study of different physiological regulations in animals.
Acquisition of surgical techniques in rats to determine blood volume, osmotic diuresis and renal permeability, the action of adrenaline and insulin on blood sugar levels, inulin clearance, and the mechanisms of glucose transport across the intestinal wall.
Study of the mechanical and electrical functioning of the frog heart.
Learning all the elements necessary to successfully complete the required practical work protocol in order to obtain results and compile a report.
Immunology (from response to infection to autoimmune diseases)
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This EU is a logical continuation of the S4 EU (Fundamentals of Physiology and Immunology) and aims to deepen knowledge of fundamental, applied, and clinical immunology. We will also address "unconventional" concepts in immunology and develop innovative immunotherapy strategies. This course unit will cover all topics related to modern immunology and will be strongly oriented towards the clinical aspects of this discipline.
Keywords
Fundamental immunology, Anti-infectious immunity, Immunotherapy, Vaccination, Autoimmunity, Immune deficiencies, Anti-cancer immunity, Non-conventional immunity
Olfactory and Gustatory Physiology
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Study of the primary and secondary olfactory systems:
The primary olfactory system: stimuli, receptor structures, transduction mechanism, olfactory information coding, and associated olfactory pathways.
The secondary olfactory system: stimuli, receptor structures, transduction mechanism, olfactory information coding, and associated olfactory pathways.
Study of the gustatory system:
The gustatory system: stimuli, receptor structures, transduction mechanism, and associated gustatory pathways.
Olfaction and cognition:
Study of odors on behavior; factors influencing the quality of the olfactory sensation; the characteristic dimensions of odors; behavioral classification of odors. Olfaction and cognition: memory of odors, mother/child olfactory attachment.
Taste and eating behavior :
Gusto-facial reflex; food preferences and aversions.
English S5
ECTS
2 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Integrated Neurobiology and Cognition
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The objective of this teaching unit is to provide an integrated approach to the functioning of the nervous system, drawing on several disciplines within neuroscience (neurodevelopment, functional neuroanatomy, neuroimaging, cognitive neuroscience) and focusing on complex brain functions.
Cellular Neurobiology and Neurophysiology
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The objective of this EU is the morpho-functional study of cells in the nervous system (neurons, glial cells), namely: the description of the mechanisms involved in neuronal excitability (generation and propagation of action potentials) and neurotransmission (mechanisms of neurotransmitter release and synthesis, and the structure and function of neurotransmitter receptors). The concepts of synaptic plasticity are also developed.
Cardiac Physiology
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The cardiovascular physiology course aims to describe and acquire knowledge about the functioning of the cardiovascular system of the whole animal at the molecular and cellular levels. Topics covered will include cardiac contraction, regulation of cardiac electrical activity (electrocardiogram and ion channels), regulation of blood pressure and baroreflex, and regulation of cardiovascular functions by the autonomic nervous system.
Cellular Communication and Pharmacology
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The mechanism of action of drugs is based on interaction with a target cell structure in the body, leading to the modulation of its functioning. This course unit therefore has two main components. Thefirst component aims to raise students' awareness of the different modes of cellular communication, the different chemical messengers, their targets, and their modes of action. The second part will aim to provide students with basic knowledge of pharmacology, i.e., understanding how drugs work and what happens to them in the body. To this end, the concepts of pharmacodynamics (ligand-receptor interaction, dose-response relationship) and pharmacokinetics (ADME: absorption-distribution-metabolism-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
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The EU offers an introduction to the main diseases affecting the nervous system, whether neurological or psychiatric. The pathologies are addressed from a multidisciplinary perspective, ranging from the molecular level to symptoms. This basic knowledge of neuropathology will serve as a foundation for the fields of research covered later in the Master's program.
Muscular and Cardiac Disorders
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
5 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The EU on muscle and heart diseases aims, based on the knowledge acquired in the previous semester on cardiovascular physiology, to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms that lead to heart diseases (various rhythm disorders including atrial fibrillation, heart failure, etc.) and muscle diseases (myopathies, etc.).
Physiology and Pathology of Nutrition
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The aim of this EU is to acquire scientific knowledge and skills in the field of nutrition, specifically in relation to pathologies.
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—including cancer, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes—can be reduced by following national nutritional recommendations.
Based on multiple scientific studies, these recommendations evolve as new knowledge becomes available. It is still difficult to describe the biological mechanisms that explain the complex effects of nutrition on health.
Numerous epidemiological studies have established that an adequate, balanced, and varied diet is essential for growth, maintaining immunity, fertility, and healthy aging (cognitive performance, maintaining muscle mass, fighting infections).
Sensory Neurophysiology and Motor Skills
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The course in Sensory and Motor Neurophysiology taught in the EU covers the anatomical and functional organization of the main sensory systems: vision, hearing, and somesthesia. It also deals with motor function and its central control at the spinal and supraspinal levels: brainstem, motor cortex, cerebellum, and basal ganglia.
Endocrine physiology
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
5 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The objective of this course is to provide students with fundamental and in-depth knowledge and skills in the physiology of the endocrine system. By studying the morphological and functional organization of the endocrine system, students will gain an understanding of the multitude of hormonal systems (endocrine glands, hypothalamic-pituitary axis, reproductive system) and their essential roles in the performance of major physiological functions and homeostasis.
Project or internship
ECTS
3 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The terms and conditions of this course unit are specifically tailored to the different L3 programs. However, 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/company or a supervised project with a tutor working in a laboratory or company associated with biology.
General Knowledge APP
ECTS
2 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Environmental Methodology
ECTS
10 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Methodology in Biology Mechanisms of Life
ECTS
10 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Specialization 1 in Environment
ECTS
14 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Specialization 1 in Biology Mechanisms of Life
ECTS
14 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
SV APP Professionalization
ECTS
2 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
English S5 in APP
ECTS
2 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Multidisciplinary APP project
ECTS
6 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
English S6 in APP
ECTS
2 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Specialization II in Environment
ECTS
6 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Internship/project in Environment
ECTS
16 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Internship/project in Biology Mechanisms of Life
ECTS
16 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Specialization II in Biology Mechanisms of Life
ECTS
6 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Grouping Coherent 1 Semester 5
ECTS
20 credits
Training structure
School of Pharmacy
Biomaterials and Polymers in Health Care
ECTS
5 credits
Training structure
School of Pharmacy
Biomaterials and Polymers in Health Written
Training structure
School of Pharmacy
Biomaterials and Polymers in Health TP
Training structure
School of Pharmacy
Instrumental techniques for analyzing pharmaceutical substances
ECTS
5 credits
Training structure
School of Pharmacy
Instrumental techniques for analyzing pharmaceutical substances EC
Training structure
School of Pharmacy
Instrumental techniques for substance analysis. PharmaTP+Writings
Training structure
School of Pharmacy
Therapeutic Chemistry - Synthesis of TC Peptides
ECTS
3 credits
Training structure
School of Pharmacy
Therapeutic Chemistry Written/CC
Training structure
School of Pharmacy
Therapeutic Chemistry Written
Training structure
School of Pharmacy
Pharmacology - Pharmacokinetics - Toxicology
ECTS
5 credits
Training structure
School of Pharmacy
Pharmacology Written/oral
Training structure
School of Pharmacy
Grouping Coherent 2 EU Cross-disciplinary language 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 industries - Scientific documentation
ECTS
3 credits
Training structure
School of Pharmacy
Technical and regulatory environment for industries
Training structure
School of Pharmacy
Scientific documentation
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 Other Language
ECTS
2 credits
Training structure
School of Pharmacy
Internship
ECTS
2 credits
Training structure
School of Pharmacy
Grouping Coherent 3 Scientific ECTS Semester 6
ECTS
21.5 credits
Training structure
School of Pharmacy
Compounding pharmacy
ECTS
5 credits
Training structure
School of Pharmacy
Galenic Pharmacy Written (multiple-choice questions + practical work graded)
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 TP Report and Oral
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-Radiobiology Written
Training structure
School of Pharmacy
Environmental Engineering-Radiobiology-Nutrition. Written/Oral
Training structure
School of Pharmacy
Biological & Cellular Engineering
ECTS
5 credits
Training structure
School of Pharmacy
Biological and Cellular Engineering Practical Work, grade implication/behavior
Training structure
School of Pharmacy
Biological and Cellular Engineering Written
Training structure
School of Pharmacy
Methods for the statistical analysis of pharmaceutical data
ECTS
3.5 credits
Training structure
School of Pharmacy
Methods for statistical analysis of pharmaceutical data. Quiz
Training structure
School of Pharmacy
Methods for statistical analysis of pharmaceutical data. Written
Training structure
School of Pharmacy
Coherent Grouping 4 EU Language Transfers 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 Written
Training structure
School of Pharmacy
Quality Management—Statistical Quality Control TD
Training structure
School of Pharmacy
Living diapers Semester 6
Training structure
School of Pharmacy
Living diapers Choice Semester 6
Training structure
School of Pharmacy
Modern Languages II Other 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
ECTS
6 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
In the field of health biotechnology, recombinant proteins can be produced in different cell types, known as expression systems, which can be prokaryotic or eukaryotic. This is a mature and attractive technological field with high employability. Indeed, the bioproduction of biomedicines (proteins, monoclonal antibodies) represents a major therapeutic challenge in humans. Before designing any biological drug involving a bioproduction step, it is essential to understand the different eukaryotic and prokaryotic expression systems used in biotechnology.
This course unit includes interactive lectures, presentations by professionals, and practical work during which the knowledge acquired in class will be put into practice: cell culture, production clone controls, recombinant protein production in eukaryotic systems, and production controls.
English
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
2 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
English tutorial for students in the "L3 Bioproduction and Biotechnology for Health" program, aimed at developing professional autonomy in English.
Molecular engineering and construction of producer clones
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
6 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
The main objective of this course unit is to enable students/learners to acquire theoretical and practical knowledge in molecular engineering. That is, to be able to integrate a gene coding for a molecule of interest and express it 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 mechanisms and molecular tools behind a modified organism (prokaryotic and/or eukaryotic). Knowledge of the enzymes involved in genetic modification and the verification/validation of this modification through vectorization will be covered. Extraction, purification, and expression methods will be covered in practical work. In addition, a comprehensive overview of the importance of molecular engineering in the field of health will be presented.
Quality management and data analysis
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
6 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This EU incorporates teaching that covers several disciplinary fields and addresses the different methodological approaches used in the industrial bioproduction of a biomedicine.
Biologics are healthcare products that must meet strictly regulated health control standards for production areas and final product quality control. In order to optimize production times and costs, statistical and mathematical methods are used to model bioprocesses.
The objectives of this EU are therefore to present:
- The development cycle of a biopharmaceutical product and the good manufacturing practices imposed by regulations
- Good laboratory practices necessary to ensure sanitary and secure 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 biomedicine
- Modeling bioprocesses using the design of experiments method to optimize the production of biopharmaceuticals
Knowledge of biologics
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
2 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Immunotechnologies
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Immunotechnology is a field of biotechnology that uses knowledge of fundamental immunology to develop methods and technologies for therapeutic, diagnostic, or analytical purposes. This course unit will provide an understanding of how immunotechnology can be used at different stages of the bioproduction of a biomedicine, from the research and development stage to the quality control stage.
USP (upstream process)
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
8 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This teaching unit (UE) is part of block 2 of the skills targeted by L3 Bio²S, namely "Preparing, designing, and conducting a bioproduction process."
USP or upstream processing refers to the early stages of the production chain for a biopharmaceutical product. It involves the production of cells (cell therapy) and products (proteins, vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, etc.) in bioreactors.
The program covers:
1/ Knowledge of equipment: bioreactors ranging from laboratory to pilot or industrial scale, traditional systems such as single-use systems and their immediate environment (sensors, etc.)
2/ Management of bioproduction processes.
Students will have theoretical and practical knowledge of the structure and function of a bioreactor and how to prepare it for a culture.
After presenting a standard bioreactor (mechanically agitated and aerated tank), the different scales and the concept of scale-up will be discussed, as well as other types of bioreactors (bubble column, airlift, etc.).
Next, all the preparatory steps prior to culture will be described and carried out both in the form of tTD and during practical work on the Bioproduction teaching platform. This part will cover: the preparation of culture media and the adaptation of their composition, assembly, verification, calibration of probes and the bioreactor, sterilization, implementation of an aseptic sampling system, and preparation of the inoculum (cell banks will be covered in EU 1.3 - Recombinant protein expression systems).
Next, the focus will be on "How to conduct and implement a culture in a bioreactor."
In this section, we will discuss:
- Indicators for monitoring biological reactions and monitoring (offline, near-line, and online techniques) and crop management. The program includes: control loops, an introduction to PAT (Process Analytical Technology) and its integration with quality procedures (e.g., implementation of monitoring indicators, control charts, etc.).
- Management of industrial production constraints (in particular limitations due to transfer phenomena such as heat and gases (O2))
- Different operating modes (batch, fed-batch, continuous): after a general presentation of the different modes, each one is examined in detail. The aim is for students to become involved in an engineering approach to developing viable technical solutions so that they are able to:
o Analyze experimental results
o Use a production planning tool (simulation) on an industrial scale (or pilot-scale experimentation).
o To anticipate the various possible scenarios for feed management for fed-batch and continuous cultures
o To carry out crops during practical work on the educational platform in Bioproduction
This EU is based on three projects that cut across skill blocks 1 (Mobilizing key theories and concepts for 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 in hybridoma (laboratory scale – screening). Cell culture (preparation of media, cell counting and culture) will be carried out after the producer clone has been checked (UE 1.3).
Project B: Production of a fluorescent recombinant fusion protein in a prokaryotic host in batch mode bioreactors (laboratory scale). Cultivation and monitoring will be carried out after the construction of the producer strains and their characterization on a small scale (UE 1.2). In addition to carrying out the cultivation and analyzing the results obtained, this practical work aims to master the preparation of a bioreactor (calibration, sterilization, etc.). This practical work is also linked to UE 2.1 for the establishment of the experimental plan and to UE 3.1 for the production of reporting documents.
Project C: Production and purification of a fusion protein used as a veterinary vaccine in a prokaryotic host in fed-batch mode bioreactors (pilot scale). Preparation of the fermenter and fed-batch culture from a cell bank of anE. coli strain. Monitoring of the culture (online and offline parameters) and recovery of biomass, calculation of yields. The complete DSP will be carried out in EU 2.3. And batch records/production reports will be produced in conjunction with EU 2.1 and 3.1.
The educational platform for bioproduction:
USP:
- Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell culture (type II PSM, incubators)
- 4 instrumented benchtop bioreactors (2 to 5 L capacity)
- 1 pilot-scale instrumented bioreactor (20 L usable capacity)
DSP:
- Centrifuge
- High-pressure homogenizer (Emulsiflex, Avestin)
- AKTAPure + preparative GSTPrep affinity column
- Instrumented pilot freeze dryer
Choice of Work-Study Program / Long Internship
ECTS
20 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Long Internship
ECTS
20 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Work-study program
ECTS
20 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
DSP (downstream process)
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
4 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
This teaching unit (UE) is part of block 2 of the skills targeted by L3 Bio²S, namely "Preparing, designing, and conducting a bioproduction process."
DSP or DownStream Processing procedures are the downstream procedures in the production chain of a biopharmaceutical. They involve the extraction and purification of the molecule of interest (recombinant protein or monoclonal antibody derived from a hybridoma). This EU will also cover distribution/packaging aspects and related controls.
The program covers:
1) Knowledge of equipment (cell lysis, chromatography, filtration, freeze-drying, etc.)
2) Process management and quality control of recombinant proteins produced
Students will acquire theoretical and practical knowledge of how cell lysis, chromatography, and distribution/packaging equipment works. They will be able to adapt the choice of equipment and processes according to 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 end use of the protein, students will propose a purification strategy (tutorial).
These elements will be implemented in the practical part of the course, in which students will purify the target protein while performing a series of online samples and checks on the process to ensure traceability and the final quality of the product.
In a second step, students will be required to evaluate the performance of the process and the quality of the active ingredient as well as the finished product by proposing an analytical approach appropriate for therapeutic proteins. They will thus be required to determine production yields, purity levels, the nature of impurities, and confirm the identity of the target protein (TD).
This EU is based on two cross-disciplinary projects covering skill blocks 1 (Mobilizing key theories and concepts for 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 in hybridoma (laboratory scale – screening). Purification, titration, and testing of the antibody will be carried out 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 practical part of USP (UE.2.2), the biomass obtained is weighed and then lysed (HHP). Emphasis is placed on controlling critical parameters (viscosity, pressure, concentration, etc.), the efficiency of the chosen process (yield, purity), and the storage conditions of the protein produced (stability, sterility, etc.). All results, analyzed critically, may be presented in the form of a batch production report.
The educational platform for bioproduction:
USP:
- Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell culture (type II PSM, incubators)
- 4 instrumented benchtop bioreactors (2 to 5 L capacity)
- 1 pilot-scale instrumented bioreactor (20 L usable capacity)
DSP:
- Centrifuge
- High-pressure homogenizer (Emulsiflex, Avestin)
- AKTAPure + preparative GSTPrep affinity column
- Instrumented pilot freeze dryer
- SDS-PAGE and Western blot, UV spectroscopy, nanoDSF
Documentation and activity reports
Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
2 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
In biotechnology laboratories and companies, scientific, technical, and regulatory documentation is essential for project management, ensuring the reproducibility of experimental results, and complying with biological product manufacturing standards. Knowing how to record, analyze, and communicate information related to the production of a biomolecule makes it possible to document all stages of a bioproduction process and thus guarantee the quality, safety, and efficacy of biopharmaceutical products.
Through lectures and tutorials, this course unit will present:
-Tools for conducting scientific and technological monitoring
-Writing methods for drafting standard operating procedures (SOPs) and experimental protocols.
-Writing methods for producing detailed reports on experimental results and data analysis (reporting/data communication activities).