This page was designed for view with the newer family of browsers. Please pardon the unstyled format of this page.

Office of the University Registrar

Registrar Services
Registrar Services

2007-08 Undergraduate Catalog

Course Descriptions
Back to Courses Index


Microbiology and Cell Science

College of Agricultural and Life Sciences


MCB 2000 Microbiology
Credits: 3.
The role of microorganisms in chemical transformations, disease, public health and agriculture. Fundamental concepts are discussed, followed by both beneficial and harmful actions of microorganisms as they affect our lives. Suitable as a general education science course. Not acceptable for admission to advanced microbiology courses. This course will not be acceptable for the preprofessional curricula relating to the medical/veterinary sciences. (B)

MCB 2000L Microbiology Laboratory
Credits: 1; Coreq: MCB 2000.
Laboratory exercises will demonstrate biochemical transformations and present methods for studying microbial properties. Suitable as a general education science course; not acceptable for admission to advanced microbiology courses. This course will not be acceptable for the preprofessional curricula relating to the medical/veterinary sciences.

MCB 3020 Basic Biology of Microorganisms
Credits: 3; Prereq: grade of C or better in BSC 2010 and BSC 2010L; BSC 2011, BSC 2011L or AGR 3303; CHM 2210 or CHM 2200. Registration restricted to non-microbiology majors only.
Introduction to the principles and techniques of microbiology, genetics, taxonomy, biochemistry and ecology and microorganisms. Students will also become familiarized with virology, immunology and the pathogenicity of microorganisms. (B)

MCB 3020L Laboratory for Basic Biology of Microorganisms
Credits: 1; Coreq: MCB 3020. Registration restricted to non-microbiology majors only.
Laboratory exercises on the structure, nutrition and growth of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Includes isolation and classification of representative microorganisms.

MCB 3023 Principles of Microbiology
Credits: 3; Prereq: BSC 2010 and BSC 2010L; BSC 2011 and BSC 2011L or AGR 3303; CHM 2210 or CHM 2200; must be a microbiology major.
Introduction to the principles and techniques of microbiology, genetics, taxonomy, biochemistry and ecology of microorganisms. Required of all majors and students anticipating enrolling in more advanced courses in the Department of Microbiology and Cell Science.

MCB 3023L Principles of Microbiology Laboratory
Credits: 2; Prereq: MCB or MCY major; Coreq: MCB 3023.
Laboratory techniques on the structure, nutrition, biochemistry, genetics and growth of microorganisms. Required of all majors and students anticipating enrolling in more advanced courses in the Department of Microbiology and Cell Science.

MCB 4034L Advanced Microbiology Laboratory
Credits: 1; Prereq: MCB 3020 or 3023, MCB 3020L or MCB 4203L and MCB 4203; MCB 4304, PCB 4522 or PCB 5235.
Application of immunological, molecular biological and microbial techniques to the isolation, identification and characterization of bacteria and viruses.

MCB 4203 Bacterial and Viral Pathogens
Credits: 3; Prereq: MCB 3020 or MCB 3023, with a C or better.
Host-parasite relationships in the diseases of man and animals. The characteristics of bacterial and viral pathogens. Basic techniques of isolation and identification.

MCB 4203L Experiments in Bacterial Pathogenic Laboratory
Credits: 1.

MCB 4304 Genetics of Microorganisms
Credits: 3; Prereq: MCB 3020 or MCB 3023, MCB 3020L or MCB 3023L with grades of C or better; BCH 4024 should be taken before MCB 4304.
Molecular biology of bacterial gene expression, DNA replication, mutation, genetic mapping using plasmids and phages, recombinant DNA mechanisms.

MCB 4403 Prokaryotic Cell Structure and Function
Credits: 3; Prereq: CHM 2211; MCB 3020 or MCB 3023, MCB 3020L or MCB 3023L with grades of C or better. BCH 4024 should be taken before MCB 4403.
An analysis of the cell structure and physiology of bacterial cells. Extensive discussion of cell division and cell growth is provided, along with descriptions of important bacterial cell structures (e.g. cell walls, membranes, flagella, etc.)

MCB 4503 General Virology
Credits: 3; Prereq: MCB 3020 or MCB 3023 and MCB 3020L or MCB 3023L and MCB 4203 with C or better.
Nature of viruses and mechanisms of infection and replication. Includes bacterial, animal and plant viruses.

MCB 4905 Undergraduate Research
Credits: 1 to 4; can be repeated up to 10 credits. Prereq: permission of undergraduate adviser.
Individual laboratory research under the close guidance of a selected faculty member. Enrollment limited to undergraduate majors in Microbiology. Required of, but not limited to, candidates for high and highest honors. Not acceptable toward required 25 credits of department and elective credits.

MCB 4909 Honors Project
Credits: 1 to 6; Prereq: must be admitted to the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences' honors program.
An individual special project course restricted to students in the college's Honors Program. Students will complete a project on a selected topic, issue or problem. Projects may relate to research, teaching or extension. The project will be reviewed by at least two faculty members chosen by the honors coordinator. May be repeated for up to six credits.

MCB 4934 Special Topics in Microbiology and Cell Science
Credits: 1 to 4; can be repeated up to 4 credits. Prereq: undergraduate coordinator permission.
Supervised literature or historical study on topics of current interest in microbiology and cell science. Not acceptable toward 25 credits of departmental required and elective courses.

MCB 4941 Microbiology and Cell Science Internship
Credits: 1 to 4.

PCB 3134 Eukaryotic Cell Structure and Function
Credits: 3; Prereq: BSC 2010, BSC 2010L, with C or better; BSC 2011, BSC 2011L or AGR 3303 and CHM 2210. Coreq: CHM 2211 and CHM 2211L.
Lecture and discussions in the field of cell biology. Emphasis on the interrelation of structure and function, the regulation of metabolism and the specialized activities of plant and animal cells.

PCB 4202 Biology of Differentiated Cells
Credits: 3; Prereq: CHM 2211 with C or better; PCB 3134.
Lectures on the physiology of cell specialization. Emphasis on comparative ultra structure, function and regulation of differentiated cell types.

PCB 4522 Molecular Genetics
Credits: 3; Prereq: MCB 3020 or MCB 3023 with C or better grade.
Molecular biology of prokaryotes and eukaryotes covering the fundamentals of genome organization and gene structure, regulation of transcription, DNA replication and repair, and RNA processing. Also included are discussions of strategies, vectors and applications of genetic engineering in higher plants and animals.

ZOO 4232 Human Parasitology
Credits: 3; Prereq: BSC 2010 and BSC 2010L; BSC 2011, BSC 2011L or AGR 3303 with C or better grade.
Host-parasite relationships of helminth and protozoan diseases important in health sciences and veterinary medicine.



General Education Categories
Consult Schedule of Courses for specific information.

  • Biological Sciences (B)
  • Composition (C)
  • Diversity (D)*
  • Humanities (H)
  • International (N)*
  • Mathematics (M)
  • Physical Sciences (P)
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences (S)

* Students who entered UF prior to Summer B 2007 and/or whose catalog year is not 2007-08: Current students who have not already completed six hours of "I" - international/diversity credits can do so now by taking "D" and "N" courses.

Symbols Used in Course Descriptions

  • (WR) indicates the course satisfies the writing requirement.
  • (MR) indicates the course satisfies the math requirement.
  • (S-U) indicates the course may be taken on a satisfactory-unsatisfactory basis.
  • Refer to the Schedule of Courses for specific information.