I, Microbiologist: A Discovery-Based Course in Microbial Ecology and Molecular Evolution

From hypothesis to discovery, I, Microbiologist enables students to develop all the basic skills and experience all the wonderment of conducting a meaningful research project from start to finish---all within a one-semester laboratory course. Specifically, students learn to reconstruct the phylogeny of a unique soil-based microbial community by analyzing 16S rRNA genes. In the process, students discover new microbes, novel sequences, and previously unknown pheno-types.

Each of the text's seven units features experimental protocols and essential background information, giving students the tools and context needed to formulate hypotheses, conduct experiments, and gather data. Written assignments associated with the readings for each unit challenge students to analyze experimental data, interpret results, and evaluate conclusions. This coursework gives students an opportunity to practice scientific process skills that can be applied to their own projects. As their research progresses, students master basic techniques in microbiology, molecular biology, and bioinformatics, learning how to troubleshoot problems that typically arise in collaborative investigations.

This text was written for undergraduate courses in microbiology, microbial ecology, molecular evolution of microbes, and microbial genomics. The entire research project can be completed in as few as 10 weeks, with students divided into groups and with tasks divided among group members. In short, this text gives students an unparalleled experience, preparing them to take on research projects in any working lab