BIOL 349 - Microbial Metagenomics of Green Energy

Students enrolled in this class will design and test a hypothesis regarding the microbial communities in anaerobic digesters installed at the Jordan Dairy Farm in Rutland, Massachusetts.  This digester harnesses the microbial process of methanogenesis to convert manure and food waste into enough electricity to power the farm.  Students enrolled in this class will extract DNA from samples obtained at the digester, sequence the DNA using IonTorrent Next Generation sequencing technology, and then analyze sequence data using bioinformatics programs.  Students will learn about biofuels through reading primary literature.  Class will meet on a couple of occasions at the Dairy Farm, in a molecular biology laboratory, and will conclude with several sessions in a computer laboratory.    

Anticipated Terms Offered: Fall, bi-annually