Natural Science 0119 - Culturing the Unculturable

It is estimated that greater than 99% of the approximately one billion different species of microorganisms on Earth remain uncultivated in the laboratory and therefore mostly unknown. This vast bacterial diversity poses a major challenge for microbiologists to understand their ecological significance and role in the biosphere. Although these organisms are sometimes referred to as "unculturable" recent advances in biotechnology and creative thinking about culturing techniques has begun to shed light on this mysterious majority. We will explore these "uncultured" microorganisms through intensive, laboratory-based research projects and readings from the primary research literature. In the laboratory students will have the opportunity to use their knowledge and creativity in pursuit of bringing previously unknown microorganisms into culture.

Physical and Biological Sciences Quantitative Skills Independent Work In this course students are generally expected to spend at least 6 to 8 hours a week of preparation and work outside of class time. This class satisfies distribution.