Undergraduate Courses: Molecular Genetics and Microbiology

Course Descriptions

Undergraduate Courses in Microbiology

The following is a listing of Undergraduate Courses in Microbiology offered by the Section of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology. Undergraduate Microbiology courses are also listed in the course schedule.

BIO 141L - Biology of Fungi Laboratory

Basic techniques for the growth, manipulation, and genetic analysis of fungi using model species as experimental tools and examples. Three laboratory hours a week for one semester. Biology 141L and Microbiology 121K may not both be counted.
Prerequisite: Biology 213, 214, 325, and 126L with a grade of at least C in each; and credit or registration for Biology 341.

BIO 129L - Medical Mycology Laboratory

Basic techniques for the identification and manipulation of fungi of medical importance. Three laboratory hours a week for one semester. Biology 129L and Microbiology 122K may not both be counted.
Prerequisite: Biology 126L or 341 with a grade of at least C or consent of instructor, and credit or registration for Biology 329.

BIO 121C - Perspectives in General Microbiology

Adjunct to Biology 226R: additional reading and writing on microbial genetics and regulation. One lecture hour a week for one semester. Biology 121C and Microbiology 126C may not both be counted.
Prerequisite: Biology 213, 214, and 325 with a grade of at least C in each, and credit or registration for Biology 226R.

BIO 121E - Perspectives in General Microbiology

Adjunct to Biology 226T: additional reading and writing on microbial cell structure and genetics. One lecture hour a week for one semester. Biology 121E and Microbiology 128C may not both be counted.
Prerequisite: Biology 213, 214, and 325 with a grade of at least C in each, and credit or registration for Biology 226T.

BIO 126L - General Microbiology Laboratory

Introduction to microbiology laboratory techniques and experimental demonstration of principles of microbiology. Three laboratory hours a week for one semester. Only one of the following may be counted: Biology 126L, Microbiology 119K, 129K.
Prerequisite: Biology 213, 214, and 325 with a grade of at least C in each.

BIO 130L - Virology Laboratory

Basic experimental techniques applied to selected bacteriophages and animal viruses. Three laboratory hours a week for one semester. Biology 130L and Microbiology 130K may not both be counted.
Prerequisite: Biology 213, 214, and 325 with a grade of at least C in each, Biology 126L, and credit or registration for Biology 330 or 333.

BIO 160L - Immunology Laboratory

Current techniques in experimental cellular and humoral immunology. Three laboratory hours a week for one semester. Biology 160L and Microbiology 160K may not both be counted.
Prerequisite: Biology 213, 214, 325, and 126L with a grade of at least C in each, and credit or registration for Biology 360K.

BIO 226N - General Microbiology: Immunity and Host-Microbe Interactions

For nursing and nutrition majors. Basic characteristics of microorganisms; infection and immunity. Two lecture hours and one enrichment/discussion hour a week for one semester. Biology 226N and Microbiology 228N may not both be counted. May not be counted toward a degree in biology.
Prerequisite: Biology 213, 214, and 325 with a grade of at least C in each, and one year of freshman-level coursework in chemistry.

BIO 226R - General Microbiology: Microbial Cell Structure and Genetics

Microbial cell structure and function; introduction to microbial genetics and regulation. Two lecture hours and one enrichment/discussion hour a week for one semester. Only one of the following may be counted: Biology 226R, Microbiology 319, 226.
Prerequisite: Biology 213, 214, 325, and Chemistry 302 with a grade of at least C in each, and credit or registration for Biology 126L.

BIO 226S - General Microbiology: Microbial Physiology and Ecology

Basic microbial biochemistry, physiology, and metabolism; introduction to microbial ecology. Two lecture hours and one enrichment/discussion hour a week for one semester. Biology 226S and Microbiology 227 may not both be counted.
Prerequisite: Biology 213, 214, and 325 with a grade of at least C in each, and credit or registration for Biology 126L.

BIO 226T - General Microbiology: Virology, Immunology, and Host-Microbe Interactions

Overview of the interactions of microorganisms and the human host, including introductory virology, microbial pathogenesis, and the host response to infection. Two lecture hours and one enrichment/discussion hour a week for one semester. Biology 226T and Microbiology 228 may not both be counted.
Prerequisite: Biology 213, 214, and 325 with a grade of at least C in each, and credit or registration for Biology 126L.

BIO 379H - Honors Tutorial Course

Open only to students admitted to the honors program. Original research with individual supervision. Conference course. May be repeated for credit. Up to six semester hours may be taken; with approval of the department chairman, three hours may be counted as required hours in microbiology for the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in microbiology and six hours may be counted as required hours in microbiology for the Bachelor of Science in Microbiology degree.
Prerequisite: Admission to Microbiology Honors Program, fifteen semester hours of microbiology, and consent of instructor.

BIO 307D - Biology of AIDS

Designed for non-science majors. Introduction to organs, cells, genes, viruses, infectious diseases, and the immune system. Basic biology of HIV, AIDS, and epidemiology. Biology 307D and Microbiology 317 may not both be counted. May not be counted toward a degree in biology.
Prerequisite: None.

BIO 341 - Biology of Fungi

Aspects of the structure, function, and biological activities of fungi, with emphasis on recent advances in research. Biology 341 and Microbiology 321 may not both be counted.
Prerequisite: Biology 213, 214, 325, and 226R with a grade of at least C in each.

BIO 329 - Medical Mycology

A basic introduction to medical mycology and an overview of research involving both the fungal zoopathogen and its host. Biology 329 and Microbiology 322 may not both be counted.
Prerequisite: Biology 213, 214, and 325 with a grade of at least C in each.

BIO 330 - Animal Virology

Mechanisms by which viruses replicate and kill or transform cells. Biology 330 and Microbiology 330 may not both be counted.
Prerequisite: Biology 213, 214, and 325 with a grade of at least C in each, and Biology 126L and 226T.

BIO 333 - Molecular Biology of Bacteriophages and Plasmids

Mechanisms of the phage infection cycle and of plasmid replication and gene expression; transposons and transposition. Biology 333 and Microbiology 331 may not both be counted.
Prerequisite: Biology 213, 214, 325, 126L, and 226R, with a grade of at least C in each.

BIO 332 - Yeast Cell Biology

Yeast is used as a model to teach some of the more actively researched areas of cell biology, such as chromosome structure, mating type cell-cell interaction, DNA replication, mitosis, cytoskeletal motors, cell polarity, signal transduction, cell cycle, checkpoints, secretion, protein modification, yeast genetics, and yeast technology. Biology 332 and Microbiology 332 may not both be counted.
Prerequisite: Biology 213, 214, 325, and 226R with a grade of at least C in each.

BIO 335 - Introduction to Biochemical Engineering

Same as Chemical Engineering 339. Microorganisms in chemical and biochemical synthesis; genetic manipulation of cells by classical and recombinant DNA techniques. Enzyme technology; design of bioreactors and microbial fermentations; separations of biological products. Only one of the following may be counted: Biology 335, Chemical Engineering 379 (Topic: Introduction to Biochemical Engineering), Microbiology 335.
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing; and consent of instructor or two of the following courses: Biology 211, 212, 214.

BIO 336 - Tumor Biology

Natural history and causal mechanisms of cancer; viral and chemical carcinogens. Only one of the following may be counted: Biology 336, Microbiology 342, 389M.
Prerequisite: Biology 213, 214, and 325 with a grade of at least C in each, and Biology 330 or 360K.

BIO 360K - Immunology

The basic concepts of humoral and cell-associated immune phenomena. Biology 360K and Microbiology 360 may not both be counted.
Prerequisite: Biology 213, 214, 325, 126L, and 226T with a grade of at least C in each.

BIO 361 - Human Infectious Diseases

Etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and immunobiology of the major microbial diseases, with emphasis on their prevention. Biology 361 and Microbiology 361 may not both be counted.
Prerequisite: Biology 213, 214, and 325 with a grade of at least C in each, and Biology 126L and 226T.

BIO 361L -Public Health Bacteriology Laboratory

Training in techniques required for independent work in diagnostic and epidemiological bacteriology. One lecture hour and six laboratory hours a week for one semester. Biology 361L and Microbiology 361K may not both be counted.
Prerequisite: Biology 213, 214, and 325 with a grade of at least C in each, and Biology 126L and 226T.

BIO 339 - Metabolism and Biochemistry of Microorganisms

A study of the metabolic processes of microorganisms, using a biochemical approach. Biology 339 and Microbiology 362 may not both be counted.
Prerequisite: Biology 126L and 226R with a grade of at least C in each; Chemistry 610; and Chemistry 339K, 369, or the equivalent.

BIO 364 - Microbial Ecology

The ability of microbes to adapt to and change their environment. Biology 364 and Microbiology 363 may not both be counted.
Prerequisite: Biology 213, 214, 325, 126L, and 226S with a grade of at least C in each.

BIO 366 - Microbial Genetics

Molecular biology of nucleic acids; biosynthesis of macromolecules, transfer of genetic material from cell to cell, recombination, mutagenesis, and regulatory mechanisms. Biology 366 and Microbiology 366 may not both be counted.
Prerequisite: Biology 213, 214, 325, and 226R with a grade of at least C in each.

BIO 368L -Techniques in Molecular Genetics

Laboratory experience in mutagenesis, bacterial conjugation, transformation, transduction, DNA isolation, and in vitro recombinant DNA procedures. One lecture hour and seven laboratory hours a week for one semester. Only one of the following may be counted: Biology 368L, Microbiology 368, 382L.
Prerequisite: Biology 213, 214, and 325 with a grade of at least C in each, and Biology 126L and 366.

BIO 339M - Bacterial Signal Transduction

The molecular and cellular biology of a wide variety of signal transduction systems in diverse microorganisms; the role of signal transduction across biological membranes in allowing cells to recognize and respond to their environment. Biology 339M and Microbiology 369 may not both be counted.
Prerequisite: Biology 213, 214, 325, 126L, and 226R with a grade of at least C in each. Biology 366 is recommended.