MICROBIAL SCIENCES COURSES at HARVARD
(Existing and Upcoming Departmental Courses)
SPRING 2008 Courses highlighted
Summary
- Details for each course can be found in the next section.
- Please consult the official Harvard Course Catalog for latest updates as this document is for reference
purposes only. Revision 1/30/08
Microbial Sciences Initiative sponsored courses (through Life Sciences)

Life Sciences 110 A Microbial World (New course: Spring 2008) A. Pearson, R. Kolter, J. Clardy

Life Sciences 190 Diverse Microbial Strategies for Metabolism, Pathogenesis, and Chemical
Signaling (New course: Fall 2007, repeating Spring 2008) G. Ruvkun and MSI Faculty

Life Sciences 100r Experimental Research in the Life Sciences (formerly *MCB 100r) A. Vail (with 1
or more sections led by MSI-associated faculty and postdocs)
Organismic and Evolutionary Biology

OEB 54

OEB 107 Evolution of Plant Life in Geologic Time [Fall 2008] Andrew Knoll

OEB 123. Biology of Symbiosis [Spring 2009] Colleen Cavanaugh

OEB 191 Physiological and Biochemical Adaptation [Spring 2008] Peter Girguis

OEB 192 Microbial Evolution [Fall] Chris Marx

OEB 118 Biological Oceanography [Spring 2008] James McCarthy

OEB 221 Microbial Diversity [Spring 2008] Colleen M. Cavanaugh

OEB 227 Molecular Approaches to Environmental Microbiology [Spring 2009] Colleen M. Cavanaugh
Biology of the Fungi [Fall] Anne Pringle and Don Pfister
Earth and Planetary Sciences

EPS 8

EPS 137 Biogeochemistry [Spring 2009] Ann Pearson
History of the Earth [Spring 2008] [Spring 2009] Paul Hoffman and Daniel Schrag
Engineering Sciences

ES 168 Aquatic Chemistry [Fall 2008] Scot Martin

ES 263 Environmental Microbiology [Spring 2008] Colleen Hansel
Chemistry and Chemical Biology

CHEM 27 Organic Chemistry of Life [Spring] Greg Verdine and Chris Walsh
Molecular and Cellular Biology

MCB 52 Molecular Biology [Fall ] Rich Losick
Details for each course
Microbial Sciences Initiative sponsored courses
Life Sciences 110. A Microbial World (New Course)
Catalog Number: 5701
Ann Pearson, Jon Clardy (Medical School), and Roberto G. Kolter (Medical School)
Half course (spring term). Tu., Th., 8:30-10. EXAM GROUP: 10, 11
This course will cover the broad spectrum of microbial sciences from biodiversity to the crucial
impact of microorganisms on geological history, the environment, climate, and world health. The
course will be taught by an academically diverse team of three Microbial Sciences Initiative
(MSI) faculty at a rigorous and fast-paced level appropriate for upper-level undergraduates.
Topics include the origins and molecules of life, biogeochemical cycles, microbial diversity, and
ecology.
Prerequisite: Life Sciences 1a and Life Sciences 1b or higher, or Physical Sciences 1 or higher,
or permission of the instructor.
Life Sciences 190: Diverse Microbial Strategies for Metabolism, Pathogenesis, and
Chemical Signaling
Harvard College/GSAS: 7185
Fall 2007 and Spring 2008
Gary B. Ruvkun (Medical School), and members of the Faculty
Meeting Time: Spring: F., 9-12
This is an interdisciplinary graduate-level and advanced undergraduate-level course in which
students explore topics in molecular microbiology, microbial diversity, and microbially-mediated
geochemistry in depth. This course will be taught by faculty from the Microbial Sciences
Initiative.
*Life Sciences 100r. Experimental Research in the Life Sciences
Catalog Number: 2122 Enrollment: Limited to 30.
Alain Viel and members of the Department
(with 1 or more sections led by MSI-associated faculty and postdocs)
Half course (fall term; repeated spring term). Fall: W., 1-3; Spring: F., 1-3. EXAM GROUP: Fall:
6, 7; Spring: 6, 7
A laboratory course that immerses students in a dynamic project-based research environment.
Participate in experimental projects directly linked with ongoing faculty research. Students select
a project from the following research tracks: neurobiology, microbial sciences, cell biology, and
synthetic biology. New projects, including some in other research fields, are offered every term.
In a highly collaborative atmosphere, students form a fully-functional research group based on
the sharing of ideas and progress reports between projects.
Note: Location of the first meeting will be announced on the course website. Open to freshmen,
sophomores, juniors, and seniors, regardless of concentration, and suitable for students either
with or without extensive laboratory experience. The course may only be repeated once and the
second enrollment must be approved by the instructor.
Prerequisite: Life Sciences 1a or permission of the instructor. Students interested in a
neurobiology project will need MCB 80 or permission of the instructor.
Organismic and Evolutionary Biology
OEB 54. Biology of the Fungi
Catalog Number: 9326
Donald H. Pfister and Anne Pringle
Half course (fall term). Tu., Th., 1-2:30 and a weekly laboratory on Tuesdays from 2:30 to 5..
EXAM GROUP: 15, 16
This intensive course explores the fascinating diversity of the kingdom fungi, including evolution,
ecology and morphology. All the major groups of fungi from smuts to molds will be included.
Students will use a variety of techniques to learn about fungi and their activities.
Note: There is a weekly laboratory and at least one weekend field trip and several afternoon
field trips are required (dates to be announced).
Prerequisite: Life Sciences 1a and 1b or permission of instructor.
OEB 107. Evolution of Plant Life in Geologic Time
Expected to be given in 2008-2009
Catalog Number: 1318
Andrew H. Knoll
Half course (fall term). M., W., at 10 and a weekly 3 hour lab with hours to be arranged.. EXAM
GROUP: 3
Origin, evolution, dispersal, paleoecology, and geologic history of the major groups of the plant
kingdom. Laboratory study of representative groups, living and fossil.
Prerequisite: OEB 10 or permission of instructor.
OEB 123. Biology of Symbiosis
Expected to be given in 2008-2009
Catalog Number: 0508
Colleen M. Cavanaugh
Half course (spring term). Tu., Th., 11:30-1. EXAM GROUP: 13, 14
An examination of the major aspects of endosymbiosis with emphasis on mutualism, although
some parasitic interactions are covered. Topics include origins of the eukaryotic cell, specificity
and recognition of partners, distribution and diversity of associations, and coevolution of host
and symbiont.
Prerequisite: Life Sciences 1b (or BS 50), OEB 10 (or BS 51), and MCB 52 or equivalent, or
permission of instructor.
OEB 191. Physiological and Biochemical Adaptation
Catalog Number: 2314
Peter R. Girguis
Half course (spring term). M., W., F., at 11. EXAM GROUP: 4
This course examines how metabolic systems in organisms, from microbes to mammals, have
evolved to maintain function throughout the wide range of habitats found on Earth. Emphasis is
placed on organismal physiology and biochemical evolution in response to the environment,
including the oxygenation of earth's atmosphere and the so-called "extreme" environments.
Topics will include pH regulation, thermo-tolerance, desiccation, locomotion, as well as
numerous novel physiological adaptations.
Prerequisite: OEB 10 or BS 51 or MCB 56 (formerly BS 56) or permission of the instructor.
OEB 192. Microbial Evolution
Catalog Number: 5019
Christopher Marx
Half course (fall term). M., W., 1-2:30. EXAM GROUP: 6, 7
An examination of the evolution of microbes through an integration of lectures and discussion of
primary literature. Additionally, students will be involved in two experimental evolution projects:
one involving microbes in the laboratory, the other with 'digital organisms.' We will focus on a
series of broad questions for which we will draw upon knowledge from both lab-based study of
experimental microcosms and comparative studies of natural populations.
Prerequisite: Life Sciences 1a and Life Sciences 1b or equivalent required. OEB 53 (formerly
BS 53) or equivalent recommended but not required.
OEB 118. Biological Oceanography
Catalog Number: 7752
James J. McCarthy
Half course (spring term). Tu., Th., 10-11:30. EXAM GROUP: 12, 13
The ocean as an ecological system, with focus on environmental-organismal interactions that
regulate plankton production and transfer to higher trophic levels. Specific topics include bloom
events, the limits to fish harvest, and the effects of climate change on ocean systems. Plankton
demonstrations and optional coastal research vessel day trip.
Note: For biology and other natural science concentrators.
Prerequisite: OEB 10 or BS 51, and Life Sciences 1a, Physical Sciences 1 or permission of
instructor.
OEB 221. Microbial Diversity
Catalog Number: 1234
Colleen M. Cavanaugh
Half course (spring term). Hours to be arranged. Examines the remarkable diversity of
prokaryotes. Physiological, genetic, ecological, and evolutionary characteristics of Bacteria and
Archaea divisions are discussed, as well as the relation of phenotype to phylogeny.
Prerequisite: Life Sciences 1b (formerly BS 50) and OEB 10 or BS 51, and MCB 52 or
equivalent, or permission of instructor.
OEB 227. Molecular Approaches to Environmental Microbiology
Expected to be given in 2008-2009
Catalog Number: 4444
Colleen M. Cavanaugh
Half course (spring term). Hours to be arranged. Critical review and discussion of current
advances in our understanding of biodiversity, community structure, and metabolic activities in
Bacteria and Archaea resulting from the application of cellular and molecular approaches in
diverse environments
Prerequisite: Earth and Planetary Sciences 30 or permission of instructor.
Earth and Planetary Sciences
Earth and Planetary Sciences 8. History of the Earth
Catalog Number: 0166
Daniel P. Schrag and Peter John Huybers
Half course (spring term). M., W., F., at 10; two hours of laboratory weekly and two one-day field
trips.. EXAM GROUP: 3
Examines the major stages and critical events in the history of the Earth, with emphasis on the
interactions between global tectonics, the climate system, and biological evolution. Topics range
from the formation of the Earth and other planets, to catastrophic events that drove mass
extinctions, to the most recent period of human interaction with the environment. Laboratories
introduce methods of investigation and analysis of the geological record.
Note: Weekend field trip.
Prerequisite: Secondary-school courses in science (physics, chemistry, biology) and calculus.
Earth and Planetary Sciences 137. Biogeochemistry
Expected to be given in 2008-2009
Catalog Number: 1923
Ann Pearson
Half course (spring term). Tu., Th., 11:30-1. EXAM GROUP: 13, 14
Introduction to biological and organic chemistry of the Earth's environment. Primary focus on the
cycles of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen with emphasis on processes occurring at the
molecular level. Includes an introduction to light stable isotope geochemistry and the isotopic
records of individual biomolecules in marine and terrestrial environments.
Note: Given in alternate years.
Prerequisite: A course in college-level chemistry or equivalent. Chemistry 17/27 strongly
recommended.
Engineering Sciences
Engineering Sciences 168. Aquatic Chemistry
Expected to be given in 2008-2009
Catalog Number: 5874
Scot T. Martin
Half course (fall term). Tu., Th., 1-2:30. EXAM GROUP: 15, 16
Applications of organic, inorganic, and physical chemistry to describe and quantify processes
occurring in natural waters. Thermodynamics and kinetics of aqueous solutions, acid-base
chemical transformations, role of dissolved carbon dioxide, gas-water exchange, complexation
of aqueous metal ions, precipitation and dissolution, oxidation and reduction, electrical aspects
of solid-solution interfaces, particle aggregation, trace metal cycling, and photochemistry.
Note: Given in alternate years.
Prerequisite: Chemistry 5 and 7 or equivalent.
Engineering Sciences 263 : Applied Microbial Geochemistry
Catalog Number: 5384
Colleen M. Hansel
Half course (spring term). Th., 2-4:30. EXAM GROUP: 16, 17, 18
Explores microbial diversity, metabolic pathways, and microbially induced chemical reactions
involved in cycling and biomineralization of redox-active contaminants, including metals and
radionuclides. Application and engineering of microorganisms for environmental remediation will
be discussed.
Prerequisite: Knowledge of undergraduate level redox chemistry and microbiology required
(minimum of Life Sciences 1a and Physical Sciences 1 or equivalent courses) or permission of
instructor.
Chemistry and Chemical Biology
Chemistry 27. Organic Chemistry of Life
Catalog Number: 5978
Gregory L. Verdine and Christopher T. Walsh (Medical School)
Half course (spring term). M., W. , 2:30-4, and a discussion section, and a five-hour laboratory
each week, to be arranged.. EXAM GROUP: 7, 8
Chemical principles that govern the processes driving living systems are illustrated with
examples drawn from biochemistry, cell biology, and medicine. The course deals with organic
chemical reactivity (reaction mechanisms, structure-reactivity relationships), with matters
specifically relevant to the life sciences (chemistry of proteins, nucleic acids, drugs, natural
products, cofactors, signal transduction), and with applications of chemical biology to medicine
and biotechnology. An understanding of organic reactions and their "arrow" pushing
mechanisms is required.
Note: Chemistry 27 and 30 may both be taken for degree credit. See note for Chemistry 17.
This course, when taken for a letter grade, meets the Core area requirement for Science A.
Prerequisite: Chemistry 17 or Chemistry 30 or Chemistry 20 with permission of the instructor.
Molecular and Cellular Biology
MCB 52. Molecular Biology
Catalog Number: 1938
Richard M. Losick
Half course (fall term). M., W., F., at 10, and one laboratory/discussion session weekly.. EXAM
GROUP: 3
An integrated and quantitative introduction to the basic principles of molecular biology, with an
emphasis on experimental methods and problem solving. The course begins with the
biochemistry and structure of DNA; continues with the Central Dogma of molecular biology
including DNA replication and repair, transcription and RNA processing, and translation; and
concludes with an overview of gene regulation and systems biology.
Note: This course, when taken for a letter grade, meets the Core area requirement for Science
B.
Prerequisite: Life Sciences 1a, or by permission of the instructor. LS 1b recommended.