Class dates: Wednesdays, March 25, April 15, 22, 29 (4 weeks only)

Class time: 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm

Location: Assumption, Kennedy 119

Although we cannot see them with the naked eye, microorganisms are all around, as well as in us. This class will begin with a basic introduction to microorganisms, including some viruses, bacteria and yeast. We'll then examine some of our complex relationships with microorganisms in more detail. Topics will include our microbiome, antibiotics/antibiotic resistance, and fermentation. We'll also discuss how microbial genes have provided the foundation for modern biotechnology.

Instructor: Clare O’Connor received her Ph.D. from Purdue and did postdoctoral research at UCLA and Caltech. She was a senior scientist at the Worcester Foundation from 1984-1995. She then joined the Biology Department at Boston College, where she taught courses in genetics and molecular cell biology before retiring in 2018.