Geomicrobiology

Catalog description

Geomicrobiology examines microbiological processes that influence earth and environmental systems. The course introduces fundamental concepts of microbial diversity, energetics and metabolisms, microbe/mineral interactions, microbial influence on environmental chemistry, biogeochemical cycles, and microorganisms as geochemical agents in the geologic record. Students are introduced to basic geomicrobiological laboratory methods. Implications of terrestrial “extremophilic” microorganisms to the evolution of terrestrial life and to the search for extraterrestrial life are also discussed. Prerequisites/corequisites: one of the following: GEOL 213, 366, 370, 470, ENV 370, BIOL 311, 314. Spring,