BIOL 483 - Investigating the Microbiome

Microorganisms, including both prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbes, can be found in nearly every environment on earth, from oceans to soils and from plant roots to the mammalian gut. The “microbiome” describes the total of all of the microbes (and their genes) found within a particular environment, and the composition and activity of the microbiome contributes greatly to the health and function of that environment. Students examine the composition of specific microbiomes to better understand the function of microbial communities and how the environment can impact their composition and activity. Students use molecular techniques and bioinformatics to identify the microorganisms found in an environment and to explore the function of the microbes within the microbiome.

Credits: 1.0
Corequisite: None
Prerequisites: None
Major/Minor Restrictions: None
Class Restriction: None
Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics
Liberal Arts Practices: Quantitative and Algorithmic Reasoning and The Process of Writing
Core Component: None

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