Courses
B Bio 370: Microbiology
Most of the diversity of life cannot be seen with the naked eye. Thus, it is impossible to understand ‘life’ without having some knowledge of microorganisms: What are they? Where do they live and why? What are their strategies for survival? What are they made of? What do they eat and why? How do they evolve? And how can we even study organisms that we cannot see? The goal of this course is to learn some of the answers to these questions, learn about the methods used to generate them, how microorganisms impact engineering and human health, and some of the topics under active investigation by microbiologists. Each class period will include a combination of lecture, discussion, and activities designed to help you learn difficult concepts. The class also includes a laboratory section where you will practice microbiological methods in the process of isolating, identifying, and characterizing an unknown (even to me) microbial strain. You will use information from lecture to develop an understanding of your strain’s survival strategies and ecological niche. With a group, you will research and present to the class current research on an issue in microbiology.
B Bio 470: Microbial interactions
In this course you will apply the fundamentals of microbiology that you learned in your previous microbiology course to understanding how microorganisms interact with other species, including each other; how these interactions shape and are shaped by evolution; the implications of these interactions for both human health and the environment, the basic features of gene regulation in prokaryotes which govern these interactions, and techniques used by microbiologists to study them. Part of your learning will come from in-class lectures and activities, and journal writing. You will also learn fundamental skills of scholarship in microbiology as you become an expert on a topic in microbiology. Your research project will culminate in a written grant proposal and a videotaped lecture prepared for other students in the course.
Winter 2013 Syllabus
B BIO 495: Investigative biology (microbial evolution)
In this course you will learn how to be a successful experimental biologist. As a member of a research lab, you will conduct experiments to test hypotheses about coevolution. You will use a model system composed of a bacteria and archaea that have evolved in conditions forcing them to cooperate with one another in order to survive. Your experiments will build upon previous work of the lab and benefit the group by providing experimental data for grant proposals and future publication. During the process, you will learn how to plan, implement, and analyze an experiment. You will learn to contextualize your data within a broader research field and to propose future work based upon your findings. You will learn the behavioral expectations and cultural activities of being in a research lab. You will present your research and findings in an oral presentation and in a scientific research paper that conforms to the standards of a journal in your field. This course satisfies the biology major’s requirement for research experience.
Spring 2013 Syllabus