THE MICROBIOME OF PLANTS, ANIMALS, AND HUMANS

Prerequisites & course information

Requisites: MICROBIO 101 or 303 or graduate/professional standing Course Designation: Core GenEd - Natural Science & Wellness Breadth - Biological Science Level - Intermediate L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Spring 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Describe how microorganisms interact with plant and animal (including human) hosts in beneficial, neutral or detrimental ways. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Express how the environment affects these host-microbe interactions. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Summarize new molecular and bioinformatic methods that allow for the study of microbial communities. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Describe how microbial communities are essential for life as we know it, and the processes that support life. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Articulate several ways in which microbial communities are essential to plant and animal (including human) health. Audience: Undergraduate 6. Explain our current knowledge about the diversity of microbial life and why its effects and potential benefits have not been fully explored. Audience: Undergraduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Describe how microorganisms interact with plant and animal (including human) hosts in beneficial, neutral or detrimental ways. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Express how the environment affects these host-microbe interactions. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Summarize new molecular and bioinformatic methods that allow for the study of microbial communities. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Describe how microbial communities are essential for life as we know it, and the processes that support life. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Articulate several ways in which microbial communities are essential to plant and animal (including human) health. Audience: Undergraduate 6. Explain our current knowledge about the diversity of microbial life and why its effects and potential benefits have not been fully explored. Audience: Undergraduate