BIOMI 6200 - Core Concepts in Molecular Bacteriology

Spring. 3 credits. Student option grading (no audit).

Co-meets with: BIOMI 4200.

H. Feaga.

The goal of this course is to prepare students for advanced work in molecular bacteriology, with a special emphasis on experimental design. First year graduate students as well as senior undergraduates with an interest in understanding how bacterial cells work at the molecular level will gain the most from this course. We will cover bacterial growth and metabolism, cell structures, physiology, pathogenesis, and experimental approaches. A background in bacteriology or microbiology is not required, since we will begin each week with a review of fundamental concepts before digging deeper into these concepts using primary literature. Further, we will examine the foundational experiments that led to our current understanding of the bacterial world. We will then critically analyze recent primary literature in this field to advance our knowledge and will use this literature as a basis for generating new hypotheses. Students will also build a foundation in structural, genetic, and biochemical tools used in microbiology laboratories. Foundational knowledge and practical skills learned in this course will help prepare the student for advanced work in the bacteriology laboratory.

Outcome 1: Identify unifying themes common to cellular life and gain an appreciation for the ways in which bacterial species have diversified and adapted to their unique environments.

Outcome 2: Demonstrate a mechanistic understanding of the bacterial world.

Outcome 3: Develop hypotheses based on primary literature and understand the fundamentals of experimental design.

Outcome 4: Critically analyze literature related to topics covered in class and be able to synthesize and discuss experimental findings.

Outcome 5: Design and interpret genetic screens.

Outcome 6: Apply basic computational tools to basic research questions.

Outcome 7: Create figures, presentations, and proposals that effectively express ideas.