Students will be introduced to the microbial world and made aware of existing tools to explore it; the importance of microbes in the biosphere and their active role in shaping life on planet earth will be examined. Starting from a historical perspective, the central role that microbes play in medicine will be investigated. The biology of microorganisms will be explored with a view to understand how microbes work and how a knowledge of microorganisms helps in understanding the biology of humans. Aspects of taxonomic relationships, safe laboratory practice and general techniques in culturing, staining and quantification will be covered.
