MCB537

041066

Extreme environments are numerous and diverse on Earth. Despite harsh environmental conditions, microbes have been found thriving from the deepest seafloors to the highest mountains, from the coldest polar regions to the hottest and most arid deserts or steaming hot springs. Microbes survival in such extreme and varied conditions allows them to play fundamental roles in global nutrient cycling. The course will encompass foundational material for the study of life in extreme environments.

In this course, we will examine microbial adaptations to their environment, how the adaptive responses affect microorganisms' evolution and how microorganisms modify their environment. We will consider physical extremes, such as temperature, radiation, pressure, and geochemical extremes (e.g., desiccation, salinity, pH, depletion of oxygen or extreme redox potential).

We will also assess how the study of life in extreme environments can provides critical elements of answer to important questions such as: \"How did life appear on our planet?\", \"How microbes made Earth habitable?\" and \"Could life exist beyond our planet?\", and explore the impact of human activity on ecosystems. Additionally, we will explore the wide application potential of this area of research in the fields of medicine, biotechnology, chemical and pharmaceutical industry, or cosmetics.

GRD - Regular Grades A, B, C, D, E

Graduate

GIDP - CBIO (Cancer Biology)

MCB181R (or equivalent), and at least one upper division Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, or Astrobiology course (unless explicit instructor permission is received).

MCB437