Microbiology

The faculty has approval to offer the following courses in the academic years 1999-2000 and 2000-2001; however, not all courses are taught each semester or summer session. Students should consult the Course Schedule to determine which courses and topics will be offered during a particular semester or summer session. The Course Schedule may also reflect changes that have been made to the courses listed here since this catalog was published.

Unless otherwise stated below, each course meets for three lecture hours a week for one semester.

Microbiology: MIC

380K. Membranes and Walls of Bacteria.
Structure, biosynthesis, and function of bacterial envelopes and walls, including associated optional components. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, a general microbiology course, and a biochemistry course.

181. Seminar in Microbiology.
One lecture hour a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Required of all microbiology majors. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and twelve semester hours of upper-division microbiology.

381J. Advanced Genetics.
Intended mainly for first- and second-year graduate students. Selected related topics of current interest with an emphasis on molecular developmental genetics, and any needed review of classical genetics. Designed to help the student to read the literature critically, deliver a good seminar, and participate in thoughtful discussion. May not be counted toward the doctoral degree in microbiology. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of instructor, and a course in genetics.

481M. Electron Microscopy I: Theory and Practice.
Same as Botany 480R. An introduction to electron optics; emphasis on basic operation and maintenance of transmission microscope; theory and practice of basic preparative techniques. Two lecture hours and six laboratory hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

382L. Techniques in Molecular Genetics.
Laboratory training in modern molecular genetics, with emphasis on the manipulation of bacterial plasmid DNA as a model system. DNA purification, gene mapping and cloning, site-directed mutagenesis, polymerase chain reaction, and DNA sequencing. One lecture hour and seven laboratory hours a week for one semester. Microbiology 368 and 382L may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, and Microbiology 366 or the equivalent.

384. Problems in Host-Parasite Biology.
May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in microbiology.

884K. Applied Public Health and Medical Microbiology.
One semester (or one summer session) of full-time training in the Texas State Department of Health Laboratories, with rotation in the divisions medical microbiology, mycology, parasitology, virology, sanitary bacteriology, and biologics. Assigned reading and lectures by the Department of Health Laboratories staff and the Department of Microbiology faculty. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, and courses in immunology, public health bacteriology, and virology.

389K. Cellular Immunology.
Cell-associated immune responses, with emphasis on transplantation, immunity, tumor immunology, delayed hypersensitivity, and acquired cellular resistance. Prerequisite: Graduate standing; and Microbiology 360 and 160K, or consent of instructor.

389M. Tumor Biology.
Natural history and causal mechanisms of cancer; viral and chemical carcinogens. Microbiology 342 and 389M may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Graduate standing; and Microbiology 360, or 330 and 130K, or consent of instructor.

390. Problems in Molecular Genetics.
May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in microbiology. Additional prerequisites vary with the topic and are given in the Course Schedule.

391. Problems in Microbial Physiology.
May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in microbiology.

192, 292, 392, 492, 592, 692, 792, 892, 992. Research Problems.
One lecture hour a week for one semester, with additional laboratory hours. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and twelve semester hours of upper-division microbiology.

393. Advanced Virology.
Replication of and transformation by DNA and RNA animal viruses. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, and Microbiology 330 or consent of instructor.

395C. Molecular Biology I: Protein and Nucleic Acid Structure.
Same as Botany 395C, Chemistry 392C, and Molecular Biology 395C. Detailed consideration of the structure and function of proteins and the structure of nucleic acids, with discussion of enzyme mechanisms and kinetics, the biochemistry of energy production, the nature and composition of biological membranes, and the metabolism of nucleotides and other compounds. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

395D. Molecular Biology II: DNA Replication and Gene Expression.
Same as Botany 395D, Chemistry 392D, and Molecular Biology 395D. Detailed consideration of mechanisms of DNA replication and transcription in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes and of mechanisms that regulate gene expression, with discussion of the nature and activity of proteins involved in these processes and the mechanisms of their interaction with nucleic acids. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, and Microbiology 395C or consent of instructor.

395E. Molecular Biology III: Protein Synthesis/Targeting and Cell Biology.
Same as Botany 395E, Chemistry 392E, and Molecular Biology 395E. Detailed consideration of mechanisms of translation that operate in prokaryotes and eukaryotes to produce proteins from transcribed messenger RNAs, of mechanisms of protein targeting and transport in cells, and of the structure and function of proteins and other molecules responsible for cell shape, motility, signal transduction, and cell-cell signaling and interaction. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, and Microbiology 395D or consent of instructor.

297. Scanning Electron Microscopy, Theory and Practice.
Same as Botany 297. Theory of scanning electron microscopy and basic principles of instrument design; basic procedures in specimen preparation; hands-on experience. Two lecture hours and six laboratory hours a week for six weeks. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

698. Thesis.
The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for two semesters. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: For 698A, graduate standing in microbiology and consent of the graduate adviser; for 698B, Microbiology 698A.

398R. Master's Report.
Preparation of a report to fulfill the requirement for the master's degree under the report option. The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for one semester. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in microbiology and consent of the graduate adviser.

398T. Supervised Teaching in Microbiology.
Teaching under close supervision of course instructors for two semesters; weekly laboratory instruction of undergraduates in microbiology and/or general biology, group meetings with the instructor, individual consultations, and reports throughout the teaching period. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

399R, 699R, 999R. Dissertation.
Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree.

399W, 699W, 999W. Dissertation.
Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Microbiology 399R, 699R, or 999R.

Related Courses

The following courses are described in the section "Marine Science."

Marine Science 180, 380, 680. Research in Marine Science.
Topic 2: General Marine Microbiology.

Marine Science 384E. Marine Microbial Ecology.

About the Program: Microbiology

Contents |  Chapter 1 |  Chapter 2 |  Chapter 3
Chapter 4 |  Chapter 5 |  Appendix

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