This course addresses the fascinating science behind the technology, and also some of the social, legal and ethical issues arising from application of biotechnology. This course comprises the third and last quarter of the biology Core series. This upper division course examines the biology of microorganisms, particularly bacteria. Bacteria have a profound impact on the biosphere and on human life, an have played a central role in the evolution of all life on Earth. In the lab, students learn to cultivate microorganisms, examine them microscopically, and characterize their growth and metabolism.
All cells depend on nucleic acids and proteins for survival, growth, and replication.
Appreciating the structure and functions of these macromolecules is critical to understanding living systems. This class examines the basis of information storage and replication in DNA, the mechanics and regulation of gene expression, and the synthesis and function of proteins. As might be imagined from the courses I teach, my research interest is in the molecular biology of bacterial cells. For the past few years, I have been focusing on specialized, targeted mechanisms of protein secretion in bacteria. The swarmer cell has a polar flagellum that enables it to search for new sources of nutrients.