Course Description
Independent research in the primary literature in selected areas of microbiology.
Athena Title
DIRECTED STUDY
Non-Traditional Format
Directed study.
Prerequisite
BIOL 1104 or BIOL 1108-1108L
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall, spring and summer
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
The course objective is to assist students in developing the ability to critically analyze research literature in selected areas of microbiology. Students who successfully complete the course will be able to use internet-based programs to carry out literature searches on specific topics in microbiology. They should also be able to identify significant papers in a particular field and discuss the important contributions of these papers to the field. Students will work on their own, but will receive assistance from the instructor through individual interactions. Students will be evaluated on the basis of a final term paper as well as an outline and a rough draft of the final paper due at various points throughout the semester.
Topical Outline
Students may choose any of the following topics for their term paper or they may choose a topic in consultation with the instructor. I. Biogenesis of Prokaryotic Cellular Structures A. Flagella B. Membranes C. Pili D. S-layers II. Mechanism and Regulation of Bacterial Cell Division A. Binary Fission B. Budding III. Prokaryotic Cell Development A. Myxococcus B. Caulobacter crescentus C. Bacillus subtilis D. cyanobacteria E. Rhizobium IV. Virulence Factors of Selected Pathogenic Bacteria V. Chemotaxis and Motility VI. Microbial Diversity and Taxonomy VII. Bioenergetics VIII. Mechanisms of Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes IX. Microbial Ecology X. Biodegradation of Aromatic Compounds
Syllabus