Environmental Microbiology

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

Bacteria are everywhere. They survive in extreme environments that include the deepest ocean regions, hot springs (like Old Faithful), Antarctica, and Death Valley. These organisms span the gamut of utility as some bacteria are absolutely required to maintain our own health while other bacteria display pathogenicity where the smallest of doses can kill. Separate from these extremes, there are other bacteria being utilized everyday in various industries to generate chemicals, antibiotics, food products, and clean water. This course will address the fundamental processes used by all bacteria, the chemical reactions and molecular interactions mediated by bacteria to function and survive, and the diversity and specific characteristics of several specific bacterial genera and species.