EX-FILES: LIFE IN THE EARTH'S EXTREME ENVIRONMENT

Prerequisites & course information

Requisites: None Course Designation: Core GenEd - Natural Science & Wellness + Lab Breadth - Biological Science Level - Elementary L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Fall 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Describe the potential for microbial life in extreme environments on Earth and other worlds. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Apply fundamental concepts of biology and the chemistry of life to interpret the history of life of Earth in a geological context, and to evaluate possible modes of life in extraterrestrial environments. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Utilize ribosomal RNA gene sequence information to determine the identity of unknown microorganisms and place them on the overall "Tree of Life". Audience: Undergraduate 4. Read science news and other programs dealing with the history of life on Earth, as well as the potential metabolic basis for life on other worlds. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Use on-line databases to obtain scientific information, summarize and document sources. Audience: Undergraduate 6. Use hypothesis-driven inquiry to collect, analyze, and interpret simple experimental data obtained hands-on in the classroom. Audience: Undergraduate 7. Use standard methods of scientific writing to produce laboratory reports and white papers. Audience: Undergraduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Describe the potential for microbial life in extreme environments on Earth and other worlds. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Apply fundamental concepts of biology and the chemistry of life to interpret the history of life of Earth in a geological context, and to evaluate possible modes of life in extraterrestrial environments. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Utilize ribosomal RNA gene sequence information to determine the identity of unknown microorganisms and place them on the overall "Tree of Life". Audience: Undergraduate 4. Read science news and other programs dealing with the history of life on Earth, as well as the potential metabolic basis for life on other worlds. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Use on-line databases to obtain scientific information, summarize and document sources. Audience: Undergraduate 6. Use hypothesis-driven inquiry to collect, analyze, and interpret simple experimental data obtained hands-on in the classroom. Audience: Undergraduate 7. Use standard methods of scientific writing to produce laboratory reports and white papers. Audience: Undergraduate