AEC 437

Gut Microbial Ecology

Section: 001

Course Description

Gut microbiome research has expanded exponentially in recent years, with rapidly accumulating implications for understanding host-microbial relationships and what constitutes health and disease. As such, the field is highly relevant to both basic science and medical careers. However, the interdisciplinary nature of the microbiome--as well as advances in sequencing technology and analytical methods--requires that scientists collaborate to achieve a firm grasp of methodological principles, analyze large data sets, and evaluate the results judiciously. In this course we will work together to analyze and compare data from human, clinical, and comparative/wildlife studies to synthesize a holistic understanding of the relationship between mammals and their gut microbes, communicate current knowledge with the general public, and identify lifestyle practices to leverage the gut microbiome for optimal health.