This module will cover topics related to Descriptive (measure of central tendency and measure of dispersion) and inferential (confidence interval and Hypothesis Testing) statistical analysis methods with the commonly used types of Epidemiological Research Designs. The main aim of the course is to introduce and able students to apply different methods of statistical data analysis on biological related data and different study designs on health-related research.
Upon completion of the module, students should be able to apply the correct statistical method of data analysis according to the data types, and correctly interpret the results. They should also be able to choose an appropriate study design and methods of data collection for a given research question.
The module provides students with basic theoretical and practical knowledge and skills to implement a Geographic Information System (GIS) project: basic concepts, tools and methods to capture, store, query, analyze, display and output spatial data (geo-information, basic processes of remote sensing. Because GIS can be applied to many research fields, this class is meant to give students an understanding of its possibilities along with the capabilities to begin engaging those possibilities in biodiversity conservation. At the end of the module, you will be able to:
- Describe GIS concepts and context
- Collect and analyse spatial data
- Make acceptable maps
- Apply GIS and Remote sensing principles for biodiversity conservation
The module aims at providing to students knowledge about basic quantitative and population genetic concepts, quantitative traits, quantitative traits and normal distribution, methods of selection and crossing for the improvement of animal and crops production, the Hardy-Weinberg Principle, the calculation of allelic frequencies in a given population, and genetic counselling and Eugenics.
All living organisms growth and development. Species in the Animal Kingdom have the most
complex developmental cycles of any living organism. Animal species have a sequence of discrete, recognizable stages of development that they pass through as they develop, from the the fertilized egg or zygote, to the sexually mature adult. This process from zygote to adult is referred to the developmental cycle. In this module students will learn about the amazing sequential processes involved in animal development from egg to adult. Students will also learn about the different types of growth animals exhibit, and the relationship to natural history. The processes of animal growth and development will be discussed in the context of wildlife conservation, management, livestock care, and implications of climate change on animal growth and development. 
This module is designed to teach the molecular structure and properties of each of the major classes of biomolecules, emphasizing on the relationship between molecular structure and biological function. The natural products are also looked on as important components of biomolecules.
Course Outline:
Carbohydrates: Roles of carbohydrates in living organisms / Nomenclature / Stereoisomerisms in carbohydrate chemistry /Structure and properties of important monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides / Carbohydrate derivatives of importance. Amino acids and proteins: Roles of proteins in living organisms / Structure and properties of the 20 essential amino acids / Formation and properties of the peptide bond / Protein folding; secondary, tertiary and quaternary protein structure /Protein denaturation / Protein sequencing methods. Nucleic Acids: Role of nucleic acids in living organisms / Nomenclature / Chemical composition and structures of nucleosides and nucleotides / Structure of DNA double helix (physical dimensions, stabilizing forces, conformations, Tm) / Packaging of DNA / Replication / Mutations and repair mechanisms / Transcription /Genetic code / Translation / DNA sequencing / Restriction enzymes.
Lipids: Roles of lipids in living organisms / Classification of lipids / Fatty acids (saturated, unsaturated) / Glycerides(neutral glycerides, phosphoglycerides) / Non-glycerol lipids (sphingolipids, steroids, waxes) / Complex lipids/ Biological membranes (structure, transport across membrane)
Natural Products. Definition and terminologies. Primary Metabolites. Secondary Metabolites. Secondary metabolites have included examples such as alkaloids, phenylpropanoids, polyketides and terpenoids. But also we have Aliphatic natural products, Semiochemicals, Polyketides, Oxygen heterocycles, Benzofuranoids, Benzopyranoids, Flavonoids, Tannins, Lignans, Polycyclic aromatic natural. Products, saponosids, Terpenoids, stroids etc
This module will provide students with an understanding of basic plant morphology and its importance for the functioning of plants. Students will relate the internal structure of plants to their external morphology and the functions of the different plant organs. Students will also obtain an understanding of the development of plant structure, major morphological and eco-physiological adaptive innovations, and important plant groups over evolutionary time scales.
Having successfully completed this module, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
1. Describe the vegetative and reproductive morphology of plants
2. Describe the functions of various plant organs and their modification for adaptation
3. Prepare and collect specimens for herbarium by using morphological characters
4. Identify the main plant organs used in identification, classification and description of plants
5. Demonstrate how modifications of existing plant structures can lead to better environmental adaptations
6. Predict the life history strategies of plants based on their morphology
7. Evaluate the limitations and advantages of certain plant traits for survival in specific environments
8. Assess how environmental change can provide advantages as well as disadvantages for certain plant groups due to their morphology
9. understand the protocols for managing and maintaining herbaria and other methods of conserving plant collections
10. use the software Microsoft Excel to manage and maintain herbaria collections and other types of plant collections
This module is designed for second year students in Botany and Conservation and Zoology and Conservation.
It covers the following content:
1. Climate Change: the science of climate change, the body of evidence
2. Impacts of climate change globally and locally
3. Impacts of climate change on Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning
4. Adaptation and mitigation strategies
5. Climate resilience
6. Global policies and multilateral agreements
7. Local policies and strategies
8. Research agenda for monitoring biodiversity and climate change
The aim of this course is to provide to students the insights into the application of animal and plant tissue culture. It involves correlation with practical course to ensure full understanding of the techniques used in tissue culture and help the students to understand how to develop micro-environment and which factors will affect tissue culture, media formulations, cell lines and different applications of tissue culture.
Indicative Content:
Plant tissue culture
1.Introduction ( History).
2. Preparation and composition of nutrient media.
3.Care of Plant material .
4.Isolation, inoculation and subculturing.
5.Transfer from nutrient medium to soil .
6.Embryon culture .
7.Production of disease free plants.
8.Vegetative propagation.
9.Somaclonal variation.
Animal Tissue Culture
- Origin and principles of cell culture
- In vitro animal tissue culture
- Culture medium formulation, Mammalian cell culture; Stem cell culture, Qualitative characteristics of cell cultures, cell counting and analysis, Primary cell culture techniques, Subculture and Development of immortalized cell line, Detection of microbial contaminants
- Advantages and limitations of animal tissue culture
- Cryopreservation and Cell banking. Applications of tissue culture
|
This module is designed to present an overview of natural resource use and management globally, and then to dig into the specifics of natural resource management in Rwanda. You will learn about the different approaches to resource management and how this is linked to governance, economics and policy issues. We will explore sustainable approaches to natural resource use and management, and the approaches to valuation of ecosystem services which provide resources to humans. Natural capital accounting and nature-based solutions will be introduced including an overview of the natural capital accounts for Rwanda and their use. Because ecosystem services come from biodiversity, we will also explore the concept of biodiversity and the main threats to biodiversity and natural resources globally, in the region and specifically in Rwanda. We will explore green growth concepts and you will have an opportunity to develop your own thinking about green growth and innovative approaches. The content of this module includes a mix of text and research article readings, reports, and videos, lectures, individual and group activities and guest lectures.
|
The module will review the major natural resources used by humans globally and in Africa, with specific attention to Rwanda. Emphasis is placed on approaches to management of natural resources, gender aspects, and sustainability and resilience in natural resource use and management. Approaches to valuation of ecosystem services and the natural capital accounting concepts will be introduced with attention to the natural capital accounts produced for Rwanda. The types of renewable and non-renewable energy systems will be presented and discussed with analysis of their application in Rwanda to meet sustainable development goals. Finally, the green growth and green economy concepts will be explored including their application in Rwanda.
Recombinant DNA technology an area of biotechnology concerned with the manipulation of recombinant DNA. In future years the power of genetic engineering is likely to impact ever more strongly on industry and on the way we live. This course describes the important methods involved in Recombinant DNA technology at the heart of which is DNA cloning.
This course covers molecular techniques in DNA and RNA manipulations in traits, yields, and improved technology. In this course, we will have the 5 Units preceded by the introduction part.
Molecular Biology has become a powerful toolkit to explore how life works. It is concerned with the mechanisms by which molecular machinery inside a cell perform the fundamental processes required for life. This module will focus on how the information is stored and maintained in the genetic material of an organism for looking at how it is expressed and regulated. In practical session, various hands-on experiments on various molecular techniques will be conducted.
The module aims at providing to students knowledge about basic quantitative and population genetic concepts, quantitative traits, quantitative traits and normal distribution, methods of selection and crossing for the improvement of animal and crops production, the Hardy-Weinberg Principle, the calculation of allelic frequencies in a given population, and genetic counselling and Eugenics.
The objective of this module is to provide students with basic theoretical and practical knowledge and skills to implement a Geographic Information System (GIS) project. This includes mastering basic concepts, tools and methods to capture, store, query, analyze, display and output spatial data (geo-information) in general. Students will learn about the basic processes of data capture from distance (remote sensing), and to distinguish types of platforms and sensors used for remote sensing data as well as their applications. Students will learn to conduct image processing, classification and interpretation.
To provide the students with knowledge on microbiological issues related to production, quality and safety assurance enabling them to apply this knowledge in the design of safe food processes and products. They will also develop the ability to apply advanced theoretical knowledge to complex real world problems.
The course is about taxonomy of flowering plants with a special focus on tropical plants in general and local flora of Rwanda in particular. A special emphasis is put on useful plants such as medicinal, aromatic, edible, cosmetic and ornamental plants. The classification adopted is the one developed by Angiosperms Phylogeny Group (APG IV) that recognises the following clades:
- Archaic Dicots composed of paleoherbs (Amborellales, Nympaheales, Austrobaileyales) and paleotrees (Magnoliids)
- Monocots that are composed of Commliniids and udefined evolved monocots (From Asparagales to Alismatales)
- Eudicots composed of Rosids (Fabids and Malvids) that are less evolved and Asterids (Campanulids and Lamiids) that are the most evolved clades
It is important to note that some Eudicots orders are still unclassified. They are mostly found in the clade of Asterids (Santales, Ericales, Caryophyllales and Cornales)