Bi 410/510 Life in Extreme Environments:

Expanded Course Description

Bi 410/510: Life in Extreme Environments (4 credits) describes the limited diversity of organisms that thrive in hot springs (terrestrial and submarine), acidic and high pH habitats, high concentrations of metals, hypersaline waters, and desiccated hot and cold deserts, and under UV stress. The course will also explain, when possible, the physiological, biochemical, and molecular bases of tolerance to these extremes. Extremophiles, during the past decade, have been studied extensively, not only as subjects of interest, but as sources of unique genes, enzymes, and other components of possible economic value. Prereq Bi 211-214 or equivalent, or consent of instructor.

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Bi 410/510 Molecular Genetics Research Lab:

Expanded Course Description

Intensive research multipart project using fungus Neurospora; includes mutagenesis,genetic selection and screening, complementation testing, mapping, DNA purification, restriction analysis, polymerase chain reaction, Southern blotting. Prereq: BI 320