PLANETARY MICROBIOLOGY: WHAT LIFE HERE TELLS US ABOUT LIFE OUT THERE
Connects the molecular underpinnings of life with corresponding planetary scale changes in geochemistry. Focuses on the dynamics between life and environment over planet Earth's history from a microbial and molecular perspective, including the origins of life, and emergence of essential metabolisms and their evolution across billions of years of planetary evolution. Discusses how innovations such as translation machinery and carbon and nitrogen fixation were impacted by significant changes in the environment. Examines how understanding the origins of life on Earth may allow for the recognition of life elsewhere in the universe by exploring, assessing, and discussing various signs of life and the processes that expands life to planetary scale.
Prerequisites & course information
Requisites: MICROBIO 101 or 303 or graduate/professional standing Course Designation: Core GenEd - Natural Science & Wellness Breadth - Biological Science Level - Advanced L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Spring 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Evaluate the reliability of sources of information about biology Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Synthesize key topics/concepts of planetary microbiology, astrobiology, and the molecular history of life Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Describe the environments in which life on Earth might have originated, emerged, and persisted over billions of years Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Analyze and describe the significant molecular innovations that impacted life on Earth Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Describe the current origins of life scenarios on Earth and planetary conditions that may give rise to life elsewhere in the universe Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 6. Formulate an original hypothesis to guide future research based on a synthesis of current research into the connections between the origins, evolution, and molecular underpinnings of life and corresponding planetary scale changed Audience: Graduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Evaluate the reliability of sources of information about biology Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Synthesize key topics/concepts of planetary microbiology, astrobiology, and the molecular history of life Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Describe the environments in which life on Earth might have originated, emerged, and persisted over billions of years Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Analyze and describe the significant molecular innovations that impacted life on Earth Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Describe the current origins of life scenarios on Earth and planetary conditions that may give rise to life elsewhere in the universe Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 6. Formulate an original hypothesis to guide future research based on a synthesis of current research into the connections between the origins, evolution, and molecular underpinnings of life and corresponding planetary scale changed Audience: Graduate
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027