BDY514: Microbial Diversity / Faculty of Applied Sciences

Microbial Diversity is designed to provide in-depth understanding of the significance of prokaryotic diversity to biology, the origin of life, and our current world. Although relatively simple and primitive, microorganisms are considered as the most successful form of life. They are virtually every where and they are in tight relationship with other forms of life on earth. Microorganisms carry out their life processes such as energy metabolism, growth, and reproduction independently from other cells. This unique feature makes microorganisms a great tool to understand the nature of life. This course is to introduce the remarkable environmental and metabolic diversity of microorganisms. Topics to be covered in addition to microbial diversity include phylogeny and taxonomy of microorganisms. However, not all major groups of microorganisms will be specifically covered; rather a snapshot of selected groups of microorganisms will be chosen to give a flavor both of diversity and of the range of current research progress.