Course content

The course will cover basic toxicology and ecotoxicology, including how toxic substances are taken up in the organisms, distributed, biotransformed and excreted, how toxic substances react with biomolecules and downstream consequences for the organism, as well as knowledge about toxic substances, e.g. metals, organic contaminants, and pesticides. The course aims to provide a holistic view of the topic by bridging human toxicology and ecotoxicology.

BIO4500 can be taken in the same semester as BIOS5411 – Toxicants in ecosystems and humans: Effects and BIOS5412 – Toxicants in Ecosystems and Humans: Exposure and Accumulation.

Learning outcome

After completing this course you should have the following skills:

  • Knowledge of sources, levels and mechanisms of action for toxic substances.
  • Understanding of exposure, uptake, metabolism, distribution and excretion of toxicants.
  • Knowledge of effects of toxic substances on molecular and cellular levels, on individual health and on natural populations and communities, including the use of biomarkers.
  • Knowledge of different categories of toxic substances.
  • Upon completion of the course, the student should have an understanding of basic principles in ecotoxicology and toxicology, and of regulatory toxicology.

Admission to the course

Students admitted at UiO must apply for courses in Studentweb. Students enrolled in other Master's Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.

Nordic citizens and applicants residing in the Nordic countries may apply to take this course as a single course student.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures for international applicants.

Necessary knowledge in organic chemistry, cell biology and biochemistry, for example, the courses BIOS1110 – Celle- og molekylærbiologi, BIOS1130 – Biokjemi I, MBV2020 – Laboratory course (discontinued), BIO2020 – Biological methods (discontinued) and MBV2010 – Molecular biology (continued)

Overlapping courses

Teaching

  • Lectures 
  • Colloquium 

The teaching takes place in week 34-39 with lectures and group exercises.

Mandatory course work must be approved before the student can attend the exam.

Approved mandatory assignments are valid for 5 years. 

Attendance is mandatory for the first lecture. This also applies to those on the waiting list. You will lose your seat on the course if documentation for absence is not provided to the student administration studieinfo@ibv.uio.no prior to the first lecture.

A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.

Examination

Written final exam  in Inspera (3 hours) counts 100%.

Mandatory course work must be approved before the student can attend the exam.

The written examination is conducted in the digital examination system Inspera. You will need to familiarize yourself with the digital examination arrangements in Inspera.

Exam attempts

Number of exam attempts are transferred between this course and BIO3500 - General Toxicology

Examination support material

No examination support material is allowed. 

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.

Resit an examination

This course offers both postponed and resit of examination. Read more:

More about examinations at UiO

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.

Last updated from FS (Common Student System) Mar. 18, 2024 3:55:54 AM

Facts about this course

Level
Master
Credits
10
Teaching
Autumn

The course is last held autumn 2020

Examination
Autumn

Examination is last held autumn 2022

Teaching language
Norwegian (English on request)