This course will cover the fundamental concepts of microbiology including microbial diversity, physiology and nutrition, microbial growth, environmental and human health, and environmental toxicology. Students will investigate these concepts through laboratory-based, hands-on experimentation including isolating bacteria from diverse sources, culturing bacterial colonies, extracting DNA, and conducting PCR (polymerase chain reaction) to determine bacterial identity. Students will i) quantify fecal indicator bacteria in the water ways of Santa Cruz and determine their host origins (e.g. humans, birds), ii) investigate the microbial contamination of food with antibiotic resistant bacteria, and iii) explore a bacterial gene of interest and compare it to a corresponding human gene by learning to navigate the UCSC Genome Browser. By completing this course, students will gain a deeper understanding of the importance of microbes and environmental factors to human health and the environment.