ENTOM 4501 - [Comparative Immunology: Innate Immunity in Action, Lab]

Spring (offered alternate years). 1 credit. Letter grades only.

Prerequisite or corequisite: ENTOM 4500.

N. Buchon.

The course “Comparative Immunology: innate immunity in action” will be accompanied by weekly labs. Four types of activities will be developed: First, classical labs will allow the students to discover simple techniques to study the innate immune response and assess its efficiency. Second, some pillar articles in comparative immunology will be discussed and debated. Third, students will present orally a subject of their choice relevant to one aspect of the course, to go deeper in that aspect. Finally, students will create and design a small research project, realize it, and analyze their own data. Altogether, this lab should give the student an overview of the process of scientific research in the field of innate immunity.

Outcome 1: Apply simple lab techniques to immunological questions.

Outcome 2: Develop critical scientific thinking in both reading scientific papers, and debating their content.

Outcome 3: Create and design a short research project.

Outcome 4: Analyze scientific data and write a scientific report.

Outcome 5: Learn how to communicate biological principles in both written and oral forms.