Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences-Microbiology

Microorganisms (viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa) play a crucial role in many of the Earth's physical and biological processes; they help to purify our waste water and clean up pollution. Mankind has used them for thousands of years in the production of foods and drinks but some types can cause new and devastating diseases. Microorganisms are the oldest inhabitants of the Earth, yet we have only discovered a small fraction of all the microbes that exist. Now microbiology is at the forefront of a technical revolution: incredibly sensitive molecular tools, coupled with sophisticated computer informatics, provide powerful new approaches to unlocking the secrets of life. On this course you will gain a broad appreciation of the biology of organisms of microscopic size, the role of microbes in health and disease, and of the mammalian immune response to infection.