BIOL 1513: Microbes in Society

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Understand the language of science and microbiology.
• Explain how microbial cell structure, function, genetics, heredity, ecology, and evolution impact our daily lives.
• Demonstrate through a variety of assignments the importance of properly obtained evidence to be used in decision making and how to communicate results in writing.
• Explain the harmful and beneficial effects of microbes to the individual and to society.
• Understand the role of microbes in events of public/social interest including evolution, variation, disease transmission, bacteria contamination of food supplies, ecology, bioterrorism and antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
• Compare and contrast various important microbes with regards to infections, including treatment, transmission, and control.
• Explain the dynamics of the relationships (microbiomes) between microbes and humans; and, between microbes and the environment.
• Understand how methods of microbial control are evaluated and applied in health care and quality control for foods and sewage treatment.
• Summarize basic bacterial genetic principles and analyze the consequences of mutation and genetic recombination to microbes of societal importance.