MICROBIAL DIVERSITY - PLP329, MIC329
FALL SEMESTER 2002
Thursdays 4:00-5:15 Rm. Marley 341H
This one-unit colloquium style course is being offered to Microbiology students and those of other majors to introduce the remarkable environmental and metabolic diversity of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms and their viruses. Major groups of organisms will be presented by diverse faculty members whose own research lies within that area. Topics to be covered in addition to microbial diversity include phylogeny and taxonomy of microbes based on analysis of phenotypic traits and DNA sequences, the ability of species to adapt to extreme environments, the diversity of viruses, and the application and value of genomics in diversity. Not all major groups of microbes/viruses will be specifically covered, rather a snapshot of selected types will give a flavor both of diversity and of the range of research programs of the faculty who teach in the Undergraduate Microbiology Program or other Majors.
INSTRUCTORS
The course organizer is Dr. Christina Kennedy, Marley 341F (621-9835). email:
ckennedy@u.arizona.edu
Dr. Kennedy will be attending conferences during the first three weeks of
the semester and will join the class on September 19. Dr. L. S. Pierson will
present the first lecture and be convening the next two (lsp@u.arizona.edu)
Other teaching faculty are shown below in the schedule of classes. Reading material will be assigned the week before each lecture and will usually be available by downloading from a web site.
SCHEDULE OF CLASSES
| General Topic: Prokaryotic Microbes | ||
| August 29 | L.S. Pierson | Introduction to Tree of Life; The Pseudomonads in Biological Control |
| September 5 | R. Maier | The Pseudomonads in Bioremediation |
| September 12 | C. Rensing | Microbes in Extreme Environments (Reading 1) |
| September 19 | C. Kennedy | Molecular Phylogeny of Microbes |
| September 26 | C. Kennedy | Symbiotic Proteobacteria in Plants (Reading 1, 2) |
| October 3 | G. Songer | Pathogenic Anaerobes |
| October 10 | W. Nicholson | The World of Gram Positive Bacteria (Reading 1) |
| October 17 | N. Moran | Symbiotic Proteobacteria in Insects(Reading 1, 2) |
| General Topic: Eukaryotic Microbes | ||
| October 24 | C. Sterling | The Sarcomastigophora |
| October 31 | M. Riggs | The Apicomplexa: selected members (Reading 1) |
| November 7 | M. Orbach | The World of Fungi (Reading 1) |
| General Topic: A Virus for Every Domain | ||
| November 14 | B. Fane | The Microviridae of Bacteria (Reading 1, 2) |
| November 21 | J. Collins | Animal Virus Diversity |
| December 5 | J. Brown | The Geminiviruses of Plants and Insects |
| December 12 | Final Exam | |
READING MATERIAL
Each faculty member will assign a paper or chapter to read the week before
or after the class is held. We will try to post Power Point presentations
on a web site after the first few weeks of class.
EXAMS AND GRADING
There will be one take-home essay mid-term and a similar final exam, each
worth 50% of the final grade. A: 90-100%, B: 80-90%, C: 70-80%, D: 60-70 %,
F: <60%.
SPECIAL NEEDS AND ACCOMMODATIONS
Students needing special accommodations or special services should contact
the Learning Disabilities program/S.A.L.T., Old Main building, Room 117, 621-1242
and/or The Center for Disability Related Resources, Second and Cherry Streets,
621-5227. The needs for specialized services must be documented, verified
by these UA units, and presented to me before the end of the second week of
class. We will do everything we can to enhance your learning experience.
SHARING OF KNOWLEDGE AND ACADEMIC HONESTY
Students are encouraged to share intellectual views and discuss freely the
principles and applications of the course materials. However, cheating during
exams is not tolerated and any out-of-class assignments must be written completely
independently. Any that appear to be overly similar will result in zero points
for all students involved. This course operates under the UA academic code
as described on pages 27-30 of the UA Arizona Record 93-95 General Catalog.
WITHDRAWALS
Students withdrawing from this course must notify the instructor prior to
nonattendance in classes and execute drop or withdrawal procedures in accordance
with the UA General Catalog. Any student failing to attend class in two or
more successive classes is subject to automatic withdrawal if arrangements
have not been made previously.
INCOMPLETES
Any incomplete given must be verified with a written agreement with the student
that specifies the work to be done and a timetable of completion.