BIO 150-04 - Intro to Biological Inquiry W/Lab (Spring)

4 credits (Spring)

Genes, Drugs and Toxins. The ways in which an organism responds to different drugs or toxins can be heavily influenced by its genetics. In this course, we will conduct research exploring the interplay between genetics, drugs, and toxins using the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker’s yeast) and a related fungal species Candida albicans. We will investigate how well yeast is able to survive exposure to a variety of chemicals when it is carrying mutations in different genes. In the course of designing our experiments and analyzing our results, we will discuss the molecular biology behind the relationship between genes and drugs. We will also explore the implications of the interplay between genes, drugs and toxins to human biology, and discuss the medical, social and ethical implications of research in this field.

Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Burrack