Listed in: Biology, as BIOL-271
Formerly listed as: BIOL-27
Alexandra E. Purdy (Section 01)
Microbes inhabit the world's oceans, deserts, lakes, soils, and atmosphere, and play a vital role in the Earth's biogeochemical cycles. As humans, we harbor a diverse microbial flora estimated to outnumber our own human cells. During this course, we will explore this microbial world by investigating the structure, physiology, genetics, and evolution of microorganisms with a focus on bacteria, but including discussions of archaea, viruses, and microbial eukaryotes. The goal of the course is to gain an understanding of the unique properties of microbes that enable their persistence and diversification. We will also pay special attention to microbial interactions with eukaryotic organisms, by studying both host and microbe contributions to virulence, mutualism, and symbiotic relationships. Laboratory exercises will include explorations of microbial functions and diversity in a variety of contexts using both classical and molecular approaches. Three hours of lecture, three hours of laboratory and one hour of discussion per week.
Requisite: BIOL 181 and 191. Limited to 28 students. Not open to first-year students. Spring semester. Professor Purdy.
If Overenrolled: Preference to senior biology majors, then junior majors, then senior non-biology majors or pre-med, then junior non-bio majors or pre-med, then sophomores.
Section 01
M 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM MERR 403
W 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM MERR 403
F 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM MERR 403
Section 01
M 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM MERR 401
Section 01
Tu 02:30 PM - 05:30 PM MCLS 432
Section 02
W 02:00 PM - 05:00 PM MCLS 432