TINY EARTH GENOMICS - RESEARCHING UNCULTURED ANTIBIOTIC-PRODUCING MICROBES

MICROBIO 520

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.

MICROBIO 470

Examines modern microbial genetics and molecular processes. Emphasis on the use of eubacterial and eukaryotic microbes to elucidate cellular function. Discussion of experimental approaches to study microbes and their use in biotechnology, bioremediation, and medicine.

MICROBIO 626

Provides an in-depth exploration of the use of mass spectrometry-based metabolomic approaches for the quantitative investigation of microbial and mammalian cellular metabolic processes. Using recent examples from primary literature, highlights the application of metabolomics, lipidomics, and metabolic flux analysis to diverse areas, including rational engineering of metabolic pathways, microbial biofuel production, discovery and characterization of new biochemical pathways, metabolic interactions within microbial communities, biochemical capabilities of the human gut microbiome, and mammalian cell metabolism.

PLPATH/ZOOLOGY 154

Learn basic methodology in scientific research and discovery, including laboratory techniques, quantitative reasoning, scientific communication, and collaboration. Gain hands-on laboratory experience working with microbes to test original hypotheses concerning the discovery of potential antibiotic compounds while addressing the world's antibiotic resistance crisis by contributing data to the global "Tiny Earth" network of researchers to advance potential drug development. Tiny Earth seeks to encourage students to pursue careers in science through real-world, applied research experiences and aims to address a worldwide health threat of the diminishing supply of effective antibiotics by "student-sourcing antibiotic discovery." Concurrent enrollment inBIOLOGY/​BOTANY/​ZOOLOGY  152is required for permission to enroll.

MICROBIO 525

Explores the origins, early evolution, and most common traces left by our planet's form of microbial life. Discovery and interpretation of microbial biosignatures in the context of a simulated surface lander mission through travel to field sites. Introduction to microbial biosignatures as inferred through satellite and drone imagery interpretation, portable XRF elemental analysis, UV-VIS-IR spectrophotometry, body and trace fossil analysis and interpretation, and metagenome sequencing. Explore evidence and methods of detection of life on other planets.