Ampersand: Phage Hunters

3 units

A research-based laboratory class for First-Year students. Students join a national experiment organized by HHMI, with the goal of isolating and characterizing bacteriophage viruses found in the soil in the St. Louis area. Laboratory work includes isolation and purification of your own phage, DNA isolation and restriction mapping, and EM characterization of your phage. Several WU phage are selected for genome sequencing over winter break, and are annotated in the spring in BIOL 1920, Phage Bioinformatics. Students who successfully isolate and annotate a phage may become co-authors on a scientific paper. High school courses in biology and chemistry recommended. One hour lecture, one hour discussion, and 3 hrs lab per week. Course is for first-year students in the Phage Hunters Program only.