BIOL 135 - Microbes and Society

Credits: 5
Explores the fascinating world of microbes and their impact on human society. It introduces concepts of basic biochemistry, cell structure, growth, and metabolism. The course will also discuss the intersections of humans and microbial disease and disease prevention, and use of microbes in agriculture, food-production, industry, and medicine. The laboratory portion includes culturing, staining, and microscopy of microbes, and intersections of microbiology and biotechnology. Intended as a non-majors science course.

Enrollment Requirement: Eligible for ENGL& 101 or instructor consent. Recommended: Completion of ENGL& 101 - English Composition I.

Satisfies Requirement: Natural Science or Lab Science
Course Outcomes:
Students who successfully complete this class will be able to:

Examine the history and evidence that led Pasteur to disprove the theory of spontaneous generation.
Examine the structure and function of biomolecules and how they contribute to life.
Distinguish and compare unique aspects of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cellular physiology.
Describe the evidence that supports the endosymbiotic theory.
Distinguish mechanisms of horizontal gene transfer and how they can result in new diseases.
Examine the impact of microbes on human health.
Explore the relationship between microbes and the environment.
Analyze the social and cultural implications of microbes.
Employ various microbiological techniques in the lab and interpret results.
Develop critical thinking and scientific reasoning skills.

Program Outcomes
Recognize how scientists use the scientific method to guide their inquiry, generate hypotheses, experimental design, reasoning, and draw conclusions based on empirical data.

College-wide Outcomes

Critical Thinking - Critical thinking finds expression in all disciplines and everyday life. It is characterized by an ability to reflect upon thinking patterns, including the role of emotions on thoughts, and to rigorously assess the quality of thought through its work products. Critical thinkers routinely evaluate thinking processes and alter them, as necessary, to facilitate an improvement in their thinking and potentially foster certain dispositions or intellectual traits over time.