FIELD STUDIES OF PLANETARY MICROBIOLOGY AND LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE

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/SOILSCI 425

Microbial interactions in soils, water, extreme environments and biofilms. Modern methods for studying microbial ecology. role of microbes in nutrient cycles and biogeochemistry. Use of microbes for mitigating manmade environmental problems of industrial, agricultural, and domestic origin.

PHMSCI 254

Collaborate on a research project from the conception of research questions through data analysis and the effective communication of results. Explore the biosynthesis of antibiotics and other small molecules by uncultured bacteria through the analysis of culture-independent DNA sequencing (metagenomics) data, learning about bioinformatics and genomics along the way. Make new discoveries of microbial species and biochemical pathways.

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.

GEOSCI 117

Explores the diversity of microbial life forms in modern and ancient geological environments, with a focus on extreme environments of geological origin or relevance. Includes exploration of unusual aspects of microbial life in everyday settings.