*Syllabus may change from year to year; this is only an example.
COURSE SYLLABUS - PLPT110
Molds and man – how fungi impact our lives on a daily basis
Instructor
Steven Harris (N234 Beadle Center, 472-2938, sharris2@unl.edu)
Course Description
3 credit hours (two 90-minute classes per week)
Fungi represent the third kingdom of life. It is likely that there are more species of fungi on this planet than there are animals or plants. Furthermore, fungi impact virtually every aspect of our lives, from the air we breathe to the food we eat and the illnesses we suffer. The goal of this course is to provide you with an overview of how molds shape our lives on a daily basis. This will be accomplished through the analysis of several prominent cases of mold-man interactions. Cases will be examined from several perspectives, and will emphasize how the interaction affected human welfare. In addition, you will be introduced to basic aspects of fungal biology that are relevant to understanding how we are affected by molds.
Evaluation
Evaluation will consist of two quizzes (30%), a final exam (30%), a group project (25%), a short term paper (10%), and participation in class discussions (5%).
Course Topics
| Week |
Topic |
| 1 | Introduction to fungal biology – what is a fungus |
| 2 | Introduction to fungal biology – what is a fungus |
| 3 | The Irish potato famine – how fungal disease changed history |
| 4 | The midwest scab outbreak – the milling industry vs. the farm economy |
| 5 | Witches, peanuts, and fungal toxins – what is the tolerable limit? |
| 6 | Molds and indoor air quality – when should you panic |
| 7 | Molds and indoor air quality – science in the courtroom |
| 8 | A lucky accident – the discovery of penicillin |
| 9 | Statins – how to develop a billion dollar drug |
| 10 | Yeast and you – a 5000 year history of how we have exploited yeast |
| 11 | Beadle’s legacy – Neurospora and the molecular revolution: the Nebraska connection |
| 12 | My itchy foot – dermatophytes and skin infection |
| 13 | Opportunistic pathogens, HIV, and drug resistance |
| 14 | The world’s largest organism – using fungi to define the limits of a genetic individual |
| 15 | Fungi and biodiversity |
Possible field trips or outside speakers:
- Fungal foray at Ager Nature Center
- Visit from infectious disease specialist to discuss fungal pathogens of humans
- Visit from environmental air quality expert
