BIOL 4220 Molecular Microbial Ecology

(2-2-3) Prerequisite: BIOL 2180 or BIOL 4180 or BIOL 4750. An exploration of the extent of biodiversity in the microbial world and the functions of microorganisms in the global ecosystem. An emphasis will be placed on the detection of bacteria in environmental samples. Current methods used in microbial community assessment including PCR, DNA hybridization, 16S rRNA sequencing and insitu-PCR will be presented. Additional laboratory fee required; see semester course schedule for amount.