Microbiology, as the name implies, is the study of the smallest living things. The scope of microbiology typically includes single-celled organisms such as bacteria, yeasts, and protists, but it also includes viruses, which straddle the line between the living and non-living worlds. Without microbes, life as we know it could not exist. However, our encounters with these remarkable creatures do sometimes make us sick. This course provides an introduction to microbiology with a primary focus on human health and illness. Over the course of the term, we will learn about different types of microbes, how they function, how they interact with us, and the ways in which we try to control those interactions.
- Professor: Bill Diehl-Jones