Master Class

Molecular advances in ecology:
Finding the middle road between big questions and the newest methods

 

15-16 December 2011

 Wageningen University

 

 

RATIONALE

 

Technological progress on DNA based methods has given ecologists a complete new set of tools. The era of next-generation sequencing is in full swing, and it is now possible to generate more data from plants, animals and microorganisms than ever can be analysed. Thus, it is crucial to focus ecological research and insure a balance between ecological question and methodology.

This two-day master class introduces the possibilities and the caveats of the molecular techniques for ecologists, but also discusses the ecological avenues that will be opened up using these techniques.

 

 

 

PROGRAMME

 

Thursday 15 December

 

8.45

Welcome

Liesje Mommer

9.00

Overview of the molecular techniques

Alex Dumbrell

10.30

Break

 

10.45

Every participant introduces himself (herself) and his (her) research (using a fixed poster format), explicitly stating interest for this masterclass so that we can anticipate.

 

12.15

Example 1 of using molecular techniques in ecology: T-RFLP

Anne Cotton

12.45

Lunch break

 

13.45

Paper 1 - 2

 

15.15

Break

 

15.45

Example 2 of using mol techniques in ecology: q-PCR

Liesje Mommer

16.15

Paper 3

 

 

 

 

17.30

Dinner in restaurant van de toekomst

 

 

 

 

Friday 16 December

 

8.45

Problems of the techniques

Alex Dumbrell

10.00

Example 3 of using mol techniques in ecology: sequencing RNA

Philippine Vergeer

10.30

break

 

10.45

Bioinformatics – an introduction. How can WUR assist?

Alex Dumbrell

Jan-Peter Nap

Hendrik-Jan Megens

12.30

Lunch

 

13.30

Paper 4

 

14.15

Example 4 of using mol techniques in ecology: 454 sequencing

Alex Dumbrell

14.45

Break

 

15.15

Reflections- discussion with participants

 

17.00

end

 

 

PARTICIPANTS

 

 

ORGANISERS

 

Liesje Mommer(Nature Conservation and Plant Ecology, Wageningen University)

Alex Dumbrell (Biological Sciences, University of Essex, UK)

Thom Kuyper (Soil Biology and Biological Soil Quality, Wageningen University)

 

 

 

SPEAKERS

 

Liesje Mommer (Nature Conservation and Plant Ecology, Wageningen University)
Alex Dumbrell (Biological Sciences, University of Essex, UK)
Anne Cotton (Molecular Ecology, University of Hull, UK)
Philippine Vergeer (Molecular Ecology, Radboud University Nijmegen)

Jan-Peter Nap (PRI, Wageningen UR)

 Hendrik-Jan Megens (Animal Breeding and Genetics, Wageningen University)

 

 

INFORMATION

 

For more detail please contact Liesje Mommer(liesje.mommer@wur.nl) or Thom Kuyper (Thom.kuyper@wur.nl)

 

 

 

FEES*

 

PhD participants

  20.-

All others

  € 50.-

*: Fees include coffee, tea, lunch and drinks

 

 

 

REGISTRATION

Please send an email to office.pe@wur.nl providing the following information:

·         Name

·         Group / University or institute

·         Email

·         A short letter of motivation (max 300 words) which must include details of your research and the way in which you are using or you intend to use new molecular methods

After you have been selected for the Master class you will be asked to provide a short poster explaining the link with your research and the aims of this course. Poster layout will be provided.

 

DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION IS 30 NOVEMBER