MICR 3154 - Microbial Ecology

Credits: (4)
Typically Taught Fall Semester: Full Sem
Typically Taught Spring Semester: Full Sem
Course Fee: $25.00
Course Fee Purpose: This course has a lab fee that will help fund unique activities done in this course. This will include materials and kits needed for DNA extraction and sequencing. It will also support providing other laboratory materials, media, and reagents.
Description: Microbial Ecology is the study of microorganisms in their natural habitats and their interactions with other living organisms. Topics explored in this course include the evolution of life on Earth, the diversity of microorganisms, microbial biogeography, symbiotic microbial interactions, and biogeochemical cycles. Current and historical research in microbial ecology is emphasized throughout the course. The laboratory experiments may involve isolating, identifying, and studying novel microorganisms from unique environments, studying environmental microbiomes, finding novel antibiotic producing organisms, and modeling biogeochemical cycles. Experimental techniques used in the laboratory involve advanced methods of cultivation, molecular identification techniques, and chemical assays.
This course consists of 3 one-hour lectures and 1 three-hour laboratory per week.
Pre-requisite(s): MICR 2054 and CHEM 1210/CHEM 1215.