Microbiomes - an introduction to the fascinating world of microorganisms
Course description
Microorganisms are everywhere. They live in our bodies, our food, the oceans, forests, and soils, where they play essential roles in health, agriculture, climate regulation, and ecosystem functioning. Although invisible to the naked eye, they profoundly influence life on Earth.
This course offers an engaging introduction to the fascinating world of microbiomes, combining scientific theory with practical, hands-on experience. You will explore how microbial communities function, interact with plants, animals, and humans, and contribute to processes ranging from nutrient cycling and food production to disease prevention and environmental sustainability.
Throughout the course, you will discover how microorganisms shape many aspects of our daily lives. You will learn how microbes drive fermentation to produce foods and beverages such as bread, yogurt and beer, how they regulate nutrient and carbon cycling in forests and agricultural soils, how they influence plant health and crop production, and how they can be harnessed to clean contaminated soils and water. To provide a broad perspective, guest lecturers with expertise in these different fields will introduce current applications of microbiology in research and society.
The course combines lectures with practical laboratory sessions, where you will gain hands-on experience with modern microbiological and molecular methods used to study microbial communities. These include culturing microorganisms, DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and quantitative PCR (qPCR), techniques that are widely used in research, biotechnology, agriculture, environmental sciences, and medicine.
As part of the course, you will also create your own microbial ecosystem by building a Winogradsky column and follow how microbial communities develop over time. Using the concepts learned throughout the course, you will investigate how microorganisms interact, compete, and cooperate to shape their environment.
Whether you are interested in biology, biotechnology, agriculture, environmental sciences, food production, or simply curious about the hidden microbial world around us, this course provides an exciting introduction to one of the fastest-growing and most influential fields in modern science.
Entry Requirements
Course facts
BI1376, Microbiomes - an introduction to the fascinating world of microorganisms, 7.5 Hp
Print syllabus
Syllabus
Finalized by: PN-NJ, 2025-04-23
Valid from : Autumn semester 2026 (2026-08-31)
Level
First cycle (G1N)
Main field of study
Biology
Biology Area
Microbiology
Grading Scale
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.
Course language
Swedish
Entry Requirements
Objectives
The course " Microbiomes – an introduction to the fascinating world of microorganism " is an orientation course in microbiology that aims to give the student an understanding of microbiomes, including the diversity and dynamics of microorganisms in various environments and ecosystem, as well as applications using microorganisms for a sustainable use of natural resources. After completing the course the student will be able to:
- Describe and discuss general principles of microbial life strategies
- Show familiarity with the use of microscopy to study microorganisms and how molecular methods can be used to study microbiomes.
- Describe species diversity and functions of microorganisms and explain the occurrences of microorganisms in different environments, their adaptations and dynamics, based on theory and a basic understanding of the relative importance of environmental and biotic factors.
- Give examples of toxic substances produced by microorganisms, their effects and reason why they are produced (eg antibiotics / antibiotic resistance)
- Exemplify, and reason about, how microorganisms can be used, for example in the biotech industry, for food production and in environmental engineering.
- Exemplify, and reason about, how we can make use of microorganisms to achieve sustainable use of natural resources
Content
The course covers bacteria, archaea and fungi, and to some extent also viruses, protists and microscopic algae. The topics in the course range from the structure and functions of microorganisms; their importance for human, animal and plant health and disease, their roles in ecosystems, biotechnological applications for the production of e.g. pharmaceuticals and food using microorganisms, to how microorganisms can be used to treat contaminated water or soil, manage waste, produce energy and their importance for sustainable use of natural resources. The course is given as a distance course. The teaching is conducted in the form of lectures, laboratory work, group and project work.
Examination Formats and Requirements for Passing the Course
The examination can be conducted through oral and written tests, assignments and project work. This can be done either at the end of the course or during the course. Submitted project work is reported in writing and in seminar form. Laboratory, group and project work as well as seminars are compulsory.
Responsible Department/Equivalent
Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology
Supplementary information
Module set
| Title | Credits | Code |
|---|---|---|
| The microbial world | 3.0 | 0102 |
| Microorganisms in our lives | 2.5 | 0103 |
| Final exam | 2.0 | 0104 |
Other Information
The teaching language of the course is Swedish, but individual lectures or laboratory sessions may be given in English. The course is a distance course that is given at 25% speed . The course includes two compulsory meetings in Uppsala.