THIS IS A ONE-SEMESTER COURSE.

This course will begin with a general survey of the six kingdoms of life and their microscopic representatives. After a review of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell structures, students will learn the characteristics of the larger animal and plant microorganisms, as well as those of members of the protist kingdom. They will examine microscopic members of the fungi kingdom, including the Penicillium molds and yeast cells. Working down in organism size, the course will cover the prokaryotic bacteria and then compare them to the archeabacteria. Students will discover the good and bad aspects of these microorganisms and will be able to understand their use in genetic engineering. In addition, students will learn about the unique properties of viruses, including their life cycles and why they are so difficult to combat medically. Special attention will be given to the flu, cold, and coronaviruses.

Live Classes: Thursdays, 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time, from the week of August 21st to the week of December 4th

Assignments: Students will be expected to complete activities, readings, or experiments.

Student Support: The instructor is available by email.

Feedback/Assessment: Feedback will be provided on assignments.

Materials/Supplies: Students will need a notebook for notes and assignments. They will also need to purchase certain microbiology supplies, such as agar plates and glass slides. Occasionally they will need to purchase a few easily-obtainable materials. A microscope is a true bonus for this course but is not required. Students will also need to purchase a printable microbiology workbook packet from www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Dr-Daves-Science.

Prerequisites: None