# MICROBIO 520: Planetary Microbiology: What Life Here Tells US About Life Out There | UW–Madison [View on UW Courses](https://uwcourses.com/courses/MICROBIO_520) ## Dataset ### revision e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349 ### repository twangodev/uwcourses ### schema version 6 ### importer version 7 ### projection id 52a78527ff09011d88cb04c7d43867d9fbfec2930bf1dd2ec359ebd2844e0b07 ### observed at 2026-09-07T15:55:43.033547+00:00 ### built at 2026-09-10T19:50:42.743001+00:00 ### courses 8951 ### current instructors 5754 ### limited false ### terms * 1272 * 1264 * 1262 * 1254 * 1252 * 1244 * 1242 * 1234 * 1232 * 1224 * 1222 * 1212 * 1204 * 1202 * 1194 * 1192 * 1184 * 1182 * 1174 * 1172 * 1164 * 1162 * 1154 * 1152 * 1144 * 1142 * 1134 * 1132 * 1124 * 1122 * 1114 * 1112 * 1104 * 1102 * 1094 * 1092 * 1084 * 1082 * 1074 * 1072 ### term 1272 ### departments | subject | count | | --------- | ----- | | AAE | 90 | | ABT | 20 | | ACCTIS | 36 | | ACTSCI | 14 | | AFAERO | 10 | | AFRICAN | 87 | | AFROAMER | 71 | | AGROECOL | 21 | | AMERIND | 53 | | ANAT\&PHY | 7 | | ANATOMY | 2 | | ANESTHES | 8 | | ANSCI | 57 | | ANTHRO | 95 | | ART | 125 | | ARTED | 10 | | ARTHIST | 121 | | ASIALANG | 129 | | ASIAN | 109 | | ASIANAM | 28 | | ASTRON | 38 | | ATMOCN | 69 | | BIOCHEM | 51 | | BIOCORE | 10 | | BIOLOGY | 14 | | BIOMDSCI | 18 | | BME | 66 | | BMI | 41 | | BMOLCHEM | 10 | | BOTANY | 69 | | BSE | 44 | | C\&ESOC | 73 | | CBE | 48 | | CHEM | 101 | | CHICLA | 52 | | CIVENGR | 133 | | CLASSICS | 47 | | CNP | 10 | | CNSRSCI | 50 | | COMARTS | 137 | | COMPBIO | 15 | | COMPLIT | 11 | | COMPSCI | 138 | | COUNPSY | 78 | | CRB | 19 | | CS\&D | 71 | | CSCS | 40 | | CURRIC | 193 | | DANCE | 93 | | DERM | 8 | | DS | 88 | | DYSCI | 35 | | ECE | 155 | | ECON | 145 | | EDPOL | 114 | | EDPSYCH | 97 | | ELPA | 70 | | EMA | 53 | | EMERMED | 17 | | ENGL | 206 | | ENTOM | 40 | | ENVIRST | 148 | | EP | 15 | | EPD | 67 | | ESL | 16 | | F\&WECOL | 60 | | FAMMED | 22 | | FINANCE | 50 | | FOLKLORE | 40 | | FOODSCI | 43 | | FRENCH | 63 | | GEN\&WS | 145 | | GENBUS | 72 | | GENECSLR | 17 | | GENETICS | 60 | | GEOG | 113 | | GEOSCI | 83 | | GERMAN | 82 | | GLE | 48 | | GNS | 38 | | GREEK | 27 | | HDFS | 41 | | HEBR-BIB | 13 | | HEBR-MOD | 10 | | HISTORY | 233 | | HISTSCI | 56 | | HONCOL | 13 | | ILS | 43 | | INFOSYS | 9 | | INTEGART | 7 | | INTEGSCI | 22 | | INTER-AG | 18 | | INTER-HE | 11 | | INTER-LS | 22 | | INTEREGR | 16 | | INTLBUS | 21 | | INTLST | 50 | | ISYE | 83 | | ITALIAN | 53 | | JEWISH | 56 | | JOURN | 88 | | KINES | 128 | | LACIS | 26 | | LANDARC | 61 | | LATIN | 24 | | LAW | 120 | | LEGALST | 48 | | LINGUIS | 35 | | LIS | 89 | | LITTRANS | 78 | | LSC | 52 | | M\&ENVTOX | 7 | | MARKETNG | 62 | | MATH | 153 | | MDGENET | 8 | | ME | 130 | | MEDHIST | 43 | | MEDICINE | 60 | | MEDIEVAL | 32 | | MEDPHYS | 39 | | MEDSC-M | 29 | | MEDSC-V | 41 | | MHR | 68 | | MICROBIO | 45 | | MILSCI | 16 | | MM\&I | 22 | | MOLBIOL | 6 | | MS\&E | 59 | | MUSIC | 165 | | MUSPERF | 126 | | NAVSCI | 20 | | NE | 44 | | NEURODPT | 11 | | NEUROL | 7 | | NEURSURG | 4 | | NTP | 11 | | NURSING | 111 | | NUTRSCI | 65 | | OBS\&GYN | 18 | | OCCTHER | 39 | | ONCOLOGY | 14 | | OPHTHALM | 5 | | OTM | 43 | | PATH | 34 | | PATH-BIO | 29 | | PEDIAT | 26 | | PHARMACY | 31 | | PHILOS | 77 | | PHMCOL-M | 11 | | PHMPRAC | 45 | | PHMSCI | 60 | | PHYASST | 37 | | PHYSICS | 88 | | PHYSIOL | 3 | | PHYTHER | 37 | | PLANTSCI | 52 | | PLPATH | 35 | | POLISCI | 192 | | POPHLTH | 58 | | PORTUG | 33 | | PSYCH | 101 | | PSYCHIAT | 22 | | PUBAFFR | 54 | | PUBLHLTH | 23 | | RADIOL | 11 | | REALEST | 41 | | RELIGST | 90 | | RHABMED | 9 | | RMI | 24 | | RP\&SE | 102 | | S\&APHM | 17 | | SCANDST | 73 | | SLAVIC | 89 | | SOC | 149 | | SOCWORK | 87 | | SOILSCI | 46 | | SPANISH | 83 | | SRMED | 21 | | STAT | 94 | | STDYABRD | 52 | | STS | 8 | | SURGERY | 25 | | SURGSCI | 33 | | THEATRE | 91 | | URBRPL | 60 | | UROLOGY | 5 | | ZOOLOGY | 89 | ## course ### run id 20260907T155543-ce3781c4 ### semester 1272 ### observed at 2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00 ### record version id 6c412e50b69d7aea9294e59703672442ebda7ceebdfa1b0a55a0bd53bf4a8923 ### course id MICROBIO 520 ### course uid course\_b7aebec97c2dce9d91fe5abd ### catalog version id a23137af2f50d639c20f8df833bbae6defc2d13f0f47bdb2cf1e1e2a0df6d4f0 ### course number 520 ### subjects * MICROBIO ### title PLANETARY MICROBIOLOGY: WHAT LIFE HERE TELLS US ABOUT LIFE OUT THERE ### description Connects the molecular underpinnings of life with corresponding planetary scale changes in geochemistry. Focuses on the dynamics between life and environment over planet Earth's history from a microbial and molecular perspective, including the origins of life, and emergence of essential metabolisms and their evolution across billions of years of planetary evolution. Discusses how innovations such as translation machinery and carbon and nitrogen fixation were impacted by significant changes in the environment. Examines how understanding the origins of life on Earth may allow for the recognition of life elsewhere in the universe by exploring, assessing, and discussing various signs of life and the processes that expands life to planetary scale. ### requirements text MICROBIO 101or303or graduate/professional standing ### credit offering ids None recorded. ### llm job id enrich-8b774950c2b6adfdc46d1b82 ### llm output id e69fd7dce500ce8d237fff5457c18d8b80d641c606dc86a07d08eebb45311c84 ### llm model nvidia/Qwen3.6-35B-A3B-NVFP4 ### llm model revision 1355db6a052410cfd62085d94b58866fd0f2c3c5 ### llm task version 14 ### llm search status valid ### llm summary Explores the connection between microbial molecular evolution and planetary geochemistry to understand life's origins and potential elsewhere. ### llm topics * Origins of life and emergence of essential metabolisms. * Evolution of translation machinery and nutrient fixation. * Dynamics between life and environment over Earth's history. * Recognition of life elsewhere in the universe. ### llm skills * Assessing and discussing signs of life for astrobiology applications. ### llm assumed background * Foundational microbiology knowledge including microbial structure, function, physiology, genetics, and ecology. ### llm search phrases * planetary microbiology origins of life * microbial geochemistry evolution * astrobiology signs of life * microbial metabolism evolution ### llm requirements status valid ### llm student summary status valid ### llm experience status insufficient\_evidence ### catalog variants None recorded. ### student summary #### context hash 03a4ebe1085d5f3aab4b5bb090d1e391b2399fae4cd2cf9717b3b9e2ce8db115 #### course id MICROBIO 520 #### current instructors None recorded. #### difficulty workload None recorded. #### errors None recorded. #### historical context None recorded. #### message No course-specific reviews available #### offered false #### profile hash 5cb4dabf887cdbcd8c00d5a1312e10828b95c63f30bc3ea76aea199565390d02 #### quick take Recent recorded grades — Spring 2024: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=24 letter grades); Spring 2025: 3.85 GPA, 91.9% A/AB (n=37 letter grades); Spring 2026: 3.97 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=46 letter grades). ```json { "citations": [ { "course_id": "MICROBIO 520", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_record": { "entity_id": "52d06cdf-c4c7-3576-97a7-6352a1f5e64a", "file": "tables/observations.parquet", "kind": "grades", "source": "madgrades" }, "table": "grades_latest", "term_id": "1244", "type": "grade" }, { "course_id": "MICROBIO 520", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_record": { "entity_id": "52d06cdf-c4c7-3576-97a7-6352a1f5e64a", "file": "tables/observations.parquet", "kind": "grades", "source": "madgrades" }, "table": "grades_latest", "term_id": "1254", "type": "grade" }, { "course_id": "MICROBIO 520", "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "source_record": { "entity_id": "52d06cdf-c4c7-3576-97a7-6352a1f5e64a", "file": "tables/observations.parquet", "kind": "grades", "source": "madgrades" }, "table": "grades_latest", "term_id": "1264", "type": "grade" } ] } ``` #### student experience None recorded. #### task hash 74fb0997943e888960bbc9e47db8c4fd12e4292d55c20509d8d89db6a9910f68 #### teaching history None recorded. #### term id 1272 #### term name 2026 Fall #### version 2 ### requirements #### nodes ```json [ { "children": [ "n1", "n2", "n3" ], "condition": null, "course": null, "evidence": "MICROBIO 101or303or graduate/professional standing", "id": "n0", "kind": "any" }, { "children": [], "condition": null, "course": { "course_number": 101, "minimum_grade": null, "subjects": [ "MICROBIO" ], "timing": "prior" }, "evidence": "MICROBIO 101or303or", "id": "n1", "kind": "course" }, { "children": [], "condition": null, "course": { "course_number": 303, "minimum_grade": null, "subjects": [ "MICROBIO" ], "timing": "prior" }, "evidence": "303or", "id": "n2", "kind": "course" }, { "children": [], "condition": "graduate/professional standing", "course": null, "evidence": "graduate/professional standing", "id": "n3", "kind": "condition" } ] ``` #### notes None recorded. #### root n0 #### status parsed ### instructors None recorded. ### offerings None recorded. ### sections None recorded. ### grade instructors ```json [ { "instructor_uid": "instructor_776d10df3f7f75b7ca684e90", "source": "madgrades", "source_instructor_id": "6400685", "identity_basis": "source_id", "identity_status": "source_identified", "name": "BETUL KACAR", "email": null, "first_observed_at": "2026-09-06 23:14:58.172943+00:00", "last_observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00", "grade_statistics": { "gpa": 3.948, "graded": 144, "counts": [ 132, 9, 3, 0, 0, 0, 0 ], "sections": 25 }, "instructor_url": "/instructors/BETUL_KACAR--instructor_776d10df3f7f75b7ca684e90" } ] ``` ### grades ```json [ { "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "semester": "1272", "observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00", "course_id": "MICROBIO 520", "course_uid": "course_b7aebec97c2dce9d91fe5abd", "term_id": "1234", "term_name": "Spring 2023", "instructors": [ "Betul Kacar" ], "a": 20, "ab": 0, "b": 0, "bc": 0, "c": 0, "d": 0, "f": 0, "satisfactory": 1, "unsatisfactory": 0, "credit": 0, "no_credit": 0, "passed": 0, "incomplete": 0, "no_work": 0, "not_reported": 0, "other": 0, "total": 21, "source_aliases": [ "MICROBIO 520" ] }, { "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "semester": "1272", "observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00", "course_id": "MICROBIO 520", "course_uid": "course_b7aebec97c2dce9d91fe5abd", "term_id": "1244", "term_name": "Spring 2024", "instructors": [ "Betul Kacar" ], "a": 24, "ab": 0, "b": 0, "bc": 0, "c": 0, "d": 0, "f": 0, "satisfactory": 0, "unsatisfactory": 0, "credit": 0, "no_credit": 0, "passed": 0, "incomplete": 1, "no_work": 0, "not_reported": 0, "other": 0, "total": 25, "source_aliases": [ "MICROBIO 520" ] }, { "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "semester": "1272", "observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00", "course_id": "MICROBIO 520", "course_uid": "course_b7aebec97c2dce9d91fe5abd", "term_id": "1254", "term_name": "Spring 2025", "instructors": [ "Betul Kacar" ], "a": 29, "ab": 5, "b": 3, "bc": 0, "c": 0, "d": 0, "f": 0, "satisfactory": 1, "unsatisfactory": 0, "credit": 0, "no_credit": 0, "passed": 0, "incomplete": 1, "no_work": 0, "not_reported": 0, "other": 0, "total": 39, "source_aliases": [ "MICROBIO 520" ] }, { "run_id": "20260907T155543-ce3781c4", "semester": "1272", "observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00", "course_id": "MICROBIO 520", "course_uid": "course_b7aebec97c2dce9d91fe5abd", "term_id": "1264", "term_name": "Spring 2026", "instructors": [ "Betul Kacar" ], "a": 43, "ab": 3, "b": 0, "bc": 0, "c": 0, "d": 0, "f": 0, "satisfactory": 0, "unsatisfactory": 0, "credit": 0, "no_credit": 0, "passed": 0, "incomplete": 0, "no_work": 1, "not_reported": 0, "other": 0, "total": 47, "source_aliases": [ "MICROBIO 520" ] } ] ``` ### statistics #### gpa 3.945 #### graded 127 #### counts * 116 * 8 * 3 * 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 ### grade conflicts None recorded. ### evidence #### history * [/data/e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349/history/course\_b7aebec97c2dce9d91fe5abd-0.json](https://uwcourses.com/data/e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349/history/course_b7aebec97c2dce9d91fe5abd-0.json) #### traces * [/data/e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349/traces/course\_b7aebec97c2dce9d91fe5abd-0.json](https://uwcourses.com/data/e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349/traces/course_b7aebec97c2dce9d91fe5abd-0.json) #### results * [/data/e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349/results/course\_b7aebec97c2dce9d91fe5abd-0.json](https://uwcourses.com/data/e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349/results/course_b7aebec97c2dce9d91fe5abd-0.json) ### revision e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349 ## context ### all #### term #### gpa 3.9448818897637796 #### count 127 #### university ##### size 2701 ##### gpa Percentile 82 ##### count Percentile 58 ##### median Count 104 ##### histogram | range | count | current | | ------- | ----- | ------- | | 0.0–0.4 | 0 | false | | 0.4–0.8 | 0 | false | | 0.8–1.2 | 0 | false | | 1.2–1.6 | 0 | false | | 1.6–2.0 | 0 | false | | 2.0–2.4 | 0 | false | | 2.4–2.8 | 13 | false | | 2.8–3.2 | 172 | false | | 3.2–3.6 | 693 | false | | 3.6–4.0 | 1823 | true | #### departments ```json [ { "subject": "MICROBIO", "comparison": { "size": 20, "gpaPercentile": 95, "countPercentile": 26, "medianCount": 179.5, "histogram": [ { "range": "0.0–0.4", "count": 0, "current": false }, { "range": "0.4–0.8", "count": 0, "current": false }, { "range": "0.8–1.2", "count": 0, "current": false }, { "range": "1.2–1.6", "count": 0, "current": false }, { "range": "1.6–2.0", "count": 0, "current": false }, { "range": "2.0–2.4", "count": 0, "current": false }, { "range": "2.4–2.8", "count": 0, "current": false }, { "range": "2.8–3.2", "count": 2, "current": false }, { "range": "3.2–3.6", "count": 7, "current": false }, { "range": "3.6–4.0", "count": 11, "current": true } ] } } ] ``` ### terms #### 1234 ##### term 1234 ##### gpa 4 ##### count 20 ##### departments | subject | comparison | | -------- | ---------- | | MICROBIO | | #### 1244 ##### term 1244 ##### gpa 4 ##### count 24 ##### departments | subject | comparison | | -------- | ---------- | | MICROBIO | | #### 1254 ##### term 1254 ##### gpa 3.8513513513513513 ##### count 37 ##### university ###### size 1289 ###### gpa Percentile 74 ###### count Percentile 15 ###### median Count 66 ###### histogram | range | count | current | | ------- | ----- | ------- | | 0.0–0.4 | 0 | false | | 0.4–0.8 | 0 | false | | 0.8–1.2 | 0 | false | | 1.2–1.6 | 0 | false | | 1.6–2.0 | 0 | false | | 2.0–2.4 | 0 | false | | 2.4–2.8 | 17 | false | | 2.8–3.2 | 128 | false | | 3.2–3.6 | 379 | false | | 3.6–4.0 | 765 | true | ##### departments ```json [ { "subject": "MICROBIO", "comparison": { "size": 16, "gpaPercentile": 67, "countPercentile": 27, "medianCount": 64.5, "histogram": [ { "range": "0.0–0.4", "count": 0, "current": false }, { "range": "0.4–0.8", "count": 0, "current": false }, { "range": "0.8–1.2", "count": 0, "current": false }, { "range": "1.2–1.6", "count": 0, "current": false }, { "range": "1.6–2.0", "count": 0, "current": false }, { "range": "2.0–2.4", "count": 0, "current": false }, { "range": "2.4–2.8", "count": 0, "current": false }, { "range": "2.8–3.2", "count": 2, "current": false }, { "range": "3.2–3.6", "count": 6, "current": false }, { "range": "3.6–4.0", "count": 8, "current": true } ] } } ] ``` #### 1264 ##### term 1264 ##### gpa 3.967391304347826 ##### count 46 ##### university ###### size 1283 ###### gpa Percentile 90 ###### count Percentile 30 ###### median Count 66 ###### histogram | range | count | current | | ------- | ----- | ------- | | 0.0–0.4 | 0 | false | | 0.4–0.8 | 0 | false | | 0.8–1.2 | 0 | false | | 1.2–1.6 | 0 | false | | 1.6–2.0 | 0 | false | | 2.0–2.4 | 1 | false | | 2.4–2.8 | 20 | false | | 2.8–3.2 | 130 | false | | 3.2–3.6 | 343 | false | | 3.6–4.0 | 789 | true | ##### departments ```json [ { "subject": "MICROBIO", "comparison": { "size": 16, "gpaPercentile": 93, "countPercentile": 33, "medianCount": 56, "histogram": [ { "range": "0.0–0.4", "count": 0, "current": false }, { "range": "0.4–0.8", "count": 0, "current": false }, { "range": "0.8–1.2", "count": 0, "current": false }, { "range": "1.2–1.6", "count": 0, "current": false }, { "range": "1.6–2.0", "count": 0, "current": false }, { "range": "2.0–2.4", "count": 0, "current": false }, { "range": "2.4–2.8", "count": 0, "current": false }, { "range": "2.8–3.2", "count": 6, "current": false }, { "range": "3.2–3.6", "count": 3, "current": false }, { "range": "3.6–4.0", "count": 7, "current": true } ] } } ] ``` ### benchmarks #### all ##### school ###### size 2701 ###### gpa 3.6818072807746525 ###### top Share 83.341103666219 ###### count 104 ##### MICROBIO ###### size 20 ###### gpa 3.586081060656933 ###### top Share 75.05715604072813 ###### count 179.5 #### terms ##### 1234 ###### school ###### size 1188 ###### gpa 3.5799441677552393 ###### top Share 77.18256448537606 ###### count 65 ###### MICROBIO ###### size 14 ###### gpa 3.508011136012051 ###### top Share 68.5447676792012 ###### count 55.5 ##### 1244 ###### school ###### size 1241 ###### gpa 3.5975573126929192 ###### top Share 78.29036874847135 ###### count 65 ###### MICROBIO ###### size 13 ###### gpa 3.580176440600032 ###### top Share 72.86950540253491 ###### count 55 ##### 1254 ###### school ###### size 1289 ###### gpa 3.6126423469389106 ###### top Share 79.48050408754871 ###### count 66 ###### MICROBIO ###### size 16 ###### gpa 3.606108325255848 ###### top Share 74.93299235211991 ###### count 64.5 ##### 1264 ###### school ###### size 1283 ###### gpa 3.6229729166451925 ###### top Share 80.13669149396227 ###### count 66 ###### MICROBIO ###### size 16 ###### gpa 3.4872646204586175 ###### top Share 69.93306631199319 ###### count 56 ## instructor Trends ```json [ { "uid": "instructor_776d10df3f7f75b7ca684e90", "name": "BETUL KACAR", "count": 127, "terms": [ { "term": "1234", "count": 20, "sections": 1, "gpa": 4 }, { "term": "1244", "count": 24, "sections": 1, "gpa": 4 }, { "term": "1254", "count": 37, "sections": 1, "gpa": 3.8513513513513513 }, { "term": "1264", "count": 46, "sections": 1, "gpa": 3.967391304347826 } ] } ] ``` ## following | code | title | | ------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------- | | MICROBIO 525 | FIELD STUDIES OF PLANETARY MICROBIOLOGY AND LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE |