Course Descriptions

Dr. Maram Bader

Program is in preparation

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Dr. Dirk Gries

A practical introduction to contemporary methods will be followed by projects and experiments on the effects of environmental factors such as light, carbon dioxide, water/drought, or nitrogen on stomata and biochemical limitations to plant carbon gain (photosynthesis, photorespiration, mitochondrial respiration), on interactions with plant transpiration and water status, and their integration in the biochemical model of leaf photosynthesis (after Farquhar 1980).

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Dr. Barbara Ritter, Dr. Michael Ferber

In nervous systems physical parameters of the environment –i.e. temperature, light intensity or sound – are converted to electrical signals. The properties of the environment are monitored by sensory cells which transform the stimulus to a change in membrane potentials. This change is transmitted to -and processed by- other neurons (nerve cells) finally leading to an appropriate response of the organism, for example a movement.  But how is this done? How does a cell generate an electrical signal? How is it conducted? How is a signal transmitted from one cell to another? Which factors affect the conduction velocity? How are connections between cells established, and which types of connection exist? 
In this course we will investigate some of the mechanisms underlying the function the nervous system.   Fundamental physiological principles will be investigated in several introductory experiments addressing the mechanisms underlying the formation of the membrane resting potential and the action potential, as well as passive electrical properties of neurons.  This is done by means of intracellular and extracellular recording techniques.     
 Subsequently more advanced questions concerning the function of nervous systems will be studied in more detail. The experiments will address topics like the formation and function of chemical and electrical synapses, the function of ion channels or sensory physiology by using various recording techniques as well as tissue culture and staining methods.  The aim of this second part of the course is to allow the participants to work as independently as possible: Students are encouraged to conduct their own experiments on course related topics. Furthermore they learn how to document, analyze and present their data scientifically.

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