Teaching Resources
Topic Frameworks (TFs)
Studying microbes relies on tools like microscopy to visualize them and probes to label specific components. Amplification is crucial due to their tiny size, and researchers often use proxies, such as genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, or metabolomic data, to understand their activity. While challenging, this field is both rewarding and exciting!
Plants are vital to life on Earth. They are primary producers, forming the base of food webs, feeding humanity and livestock, supporting biodiversity by providing habitats, enriching soil and sequestering carbon, and offering materials like wood, cork, and rubber. They also bring us beauty and tradition. However, plants thrive through partnerships with microbes, which play crucial roles in their health and success. Let’s explore the microbial side of the plant story!
Like plants, all animals are covered in microbes – their microbiomes – which influence their health, digestion, hormones, behavior, and competition. Animals fascinate us, from pets and birds to zoo creatures, monkeys, reptiles, and fish. We should view them as animal:microbe holobionts, considering the microbial role in their well-being and behavior. Let's explore how microbes impact and sometimes control animals (and us, since we are animals too)!
Microbes are vital in food production, processing, preservation, and global food security. They also serve as a food source, crucial for addressing challenges like greenhouse gas emissions, population growth, and limited agricultural land. Let’s explore the role of microbes in our food!