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Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry

Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Undergraduate Curricular Requirements

Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Academic Minor Requirements

Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Graduate Degree Programs

Bruce L. Miller, Interim Dept. Head (142 Life Science Bldg 83844-3052; phone 208/885-7966; mmbb@uidaho.edu; www.ag.uidaho.edu/mmbb). Faculty: Gustavo A. Arrizabalaga, Carolyn H. Bohach, Gregory A. Bohach, Allan B. Caplan, Douglas G. Cole, Ronald L. Crawford, Elizabeth (Lee) Fortunato, Kurt E. Gustin, Patricia L. Hartzell, Zonglie Hong, Jill L. Johnson, Scott D. Kobayashi, Wusi C. Maki, Bruce L. Miller, Scott A. Minnich, Tanya Miura, Andrzej Paszczynski. Adjunct Faculty: I. Francis Cheng, Susan E. Childers; Margaret A. Davis, Guy R. Knudsen, Matthew J. Morra, Troy L. Ott, Eva M. Top. Affiliate Faculty: William A. Apel, Debonny Barsky-Shoaf, Amy E. Bryant, Frederick S. Colwell, James K. Fredrickson, Rick L. Ornstein, Yong Ho Park, Francisco F. Roberto, Robert D. Rogers, Dennis L. Stevens, Daphne L. Stoner, Kasthuri Venkateswaren, James H. Wolfram. Emeritus faculty: Donald L. Crawford, Richard Heimsch, Duane LeTourneau

The Microbiology major is concerned with the study of microscopic forms of life, their distribution, importance, and role in such diverse areas as control and diagnosis of diseases, agricultural biotechnology, environmental and pollution control, and genetic engineering.

The molecular biology and biotechnology and biochemistry majors are the study of the molecular basis of life, the chemical, physical, and genetic properties of living things, their metabolic processes, and the new technologies for the genetic engineering of organisms.

The Department of Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry offers the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Microbiology, Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology and Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. Students may choose to emphasize general microbiology, molecular biology and biotechnology or biochemistry by appropriate course choices. In addition, the department offers the degree of Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology for students who have earned the Bachelor of Science in Microbiology at UI and have completed medical technology training in an accredited hospital school. In each case, the curriculum emphasizes the need for a broad cultural base and specific training in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics, in addition to courses in the specialty area. Well-equipped laboratories are available and advanced students are encouraged to undertake research problems with the faculty. The department also provides courses for students who are majoring in other areas of the university and wish to obtain increased understanding of the sciences. This degree is a perfect entry into professional schools (medical, dental, pharmacy, medical technology) and allied health fields (nursing, veterinary medicine, dental hygienist). Students are invited to inquire about academic minors in the department.

The Department of Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry is a research and teaching unit within the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences with extensive research expertise and instructional responsibilities in molecular biology, microbiology, and biochemistry. Scientists in the department are in the forefront of research with bacteria, fungi, viruses, plants, protein chemistry, molecular motors, and environmental science. The department is actively engaged in the use of emerging technology and maintains state-of the art equipment for scientific analysis. Advanced students are encouraged to undertake research problems where they work with the faculty in well-equipped laboratories. This degree is a perfect entry into professional schools (medical, dental, pharmacy, medical technology) and allied health fields (nursing, veterinary medicine, dental hygienist). The department welcomes students who are majoring in other areas of the university and wish to obtain increased understanding of the sciences. Students are invited to inquire about academic minors in the department.

Current research efforts designed to add to our scientific knowledge base include studies on the biochemistry and molecular biology of host-pathogen interactions, molecular motors, microbial toxins, environmentally-significant degradative processes, the regulation of gene expression, developmental biology of prokaryotes and eukaryotes, regulation of sporulation, plant molecular, cellular and developmental biology, and microbial ecology. In addition to these basic research interests, faculty are involved in applying new knowledge to applied problems in biotechnology. Much of this work is in association with the University of Idaho's Environmental Biotechnology Institute (EBI), which coordinates environmental biotechnological research between university departments and encourages joint endeavors between diverse disciplines.

This combination of basic and applied research, funded at the multi-million dollar level, provides a stimulating environment where graduate students can gain extensive research experience in all aspects of modern microbiology, biochemistry, and molecular biology. Students can select from a broad range of courses presenting the latest information in all areas of biochemical and microbial sciences. All members of the departmental faculty are actively involved in research and teaching programs that provide students with a broad perspective of important problems in modern biology. Prospective students may call or write to the department (or e-mail mmbb@uidaho.edu) or individual faculty members for additional information concerning ongoing research activities and the availability of research assistantships.

In addition to the admission requirements of the Graduate College, prospective graduate students should have maintained an overall B average for all course work taken and have majored in an area of biological or chemical sciences. Results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and three letters of recommendation are required. Students for whom English is a foreign language must have a TOEFL score of at least 580. Prior training should have included courses in general biology and chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, calculus, physics, and introductory microbiology. Acceptance of students deficient in some of these areas will be considered on an individual basis. In such cases, it will be expected that the deficiencies will be removed early during the graduate program.

Courses

See Part 6 for courses in Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry (MMBB).