Bacterial Diversity Studies Using the 16S rRna Gene Provide a Powerful Research-Based Curriculum for Molecular Biology Laboratory

OBJECTIVES

(1) to identify novel bacteria from "red layer" communities in Yellowstone hot springs

SIGNIFICANCE
- microbial mats, evolution, and "origin of life"
- complex and diverse microbial ecosystems
- identification methods (culture vs. DNA)

(2) identification methods include DNA analysis, the focus of curriculum in this course

SIGNIFICANCE
- biochemical and molecular concepts
- biotechnology applications
- bioinformatics and phylogenetics

(3) to compare data from different sites, assessing diversity and potential selection factors

SIGNIFICANCE
- evolution
- microbial diversity
- cumulative analyses among classes over time

Danny Lodge and Kevin Larson survey Spray Geyser, Yellowstone (July, 2000).

Sarah Crosky loads DNA sequencing gel, Biology 475 (May, 2001).