WRIT 022: BIOLOGY

Spring 2022 Courses

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WRIT 022 301

TR 1:45 PM - 3:15 PM

MacRae-Crerar

Magical Microbes

Fulfills the Writing Requirement

Mutation is the ultimate source of diversity. One random nucleotide change, hidden in DNA, can result in a whole new lineage of life. Invisible to the naked eye, 3.8 billon years of mutation have made microbes the most diverse organisms on the planet. These unseen unicellular creatures are the foundation of life as we know it. Vital insights into all other organisms on Earth - including ourselves - are provided by explorations of their vast morphologies, functionalities, and survival strategies. Microbes are proof of the power of hidden diversity; they are what we are all made of, which makes us all similar, yet different, from each other. But how is diversity defined and what role does it play in different communities and cultures? Together, we will examine the more visible aspects of diversity, such as ethnicity, and then go further to explore the less visible forms, such as the wide range of thought processes illustrated by those with various mental health outlooks. In this period of globalization, the way in which people respond to, and modify their understanding of, differences is at the forefront of discussion. Using Ed Yong's book, I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes within Us and a Grander View of Life, this course will enable students to participate and lead these vital discussions on diversity from multiple perspectives. Writing assignments will focus on articulating the implications of unseen diversity, drawing parallels between unicellular life and to multi-level societal mores among humans.

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