Lectures and laboratory exercises are coordinated to explore topics in basic microbiology, environmental microbiology, molecular microbiology, and the production of economically or medically important products through microbial biotechnology. This course focuses on how microbes have adapted to inhabit different nutritional environments, through behavioral, biochemical, developmental and physiological diversity. Where possible, their involvement in industrial processes and challenges in their study are discussed. The role of microbes in nutrient cycling in the biosphere is a common theme. The structure, growth, and metabolic path-ways used by bacteria, yeasts, and molds.
Emphasis is placed on the comparative biochemical aspects of microbial life.
Laboratory exercises introduce the microanalytical techniques used for measuring microbial growth and for following metabolic events at the cellular and subcellular level. Description and critical discussion of current techniques used for the isolation and characterization of macromolecular constituents of prokaryotic cells. Emphasis will be placed on examples from the recent literature. A series of laboratory projects employing current techniques used in the isolation and characterization of macromolecular constituents of prokaryotic cells, including enzymes, plasmids and RNA molecules. This course is designed to develop familiarity with current research literature in Cell Biotechnology.