Gut Microbiome and Human Health
HEB 114
Subject & Catalog Number
Course Information
Description
Microorganisms residing in the human gastrointestinal tract are as numerous as our own cells and together encode at least 150 times as many unique genes. In this research seminar, we explore gut microbial contributions to human physiology in states of health and disease. We consider how the human gut is colonized, the factors shaping the structure and function of the gut microbiome, and the pivotal roles of the gut microbiome in digestion, energy regulation, immunity, development, drug metabolism, and behavior. We evaluate fast-growing evidence for the gut microbial modulation of metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders, and discuss prospective microbiome-targeted approaches for the prevention and treatment of human disease. The weekly three-hour lab will introduce students to experimental, bench and computational techniques used to investigate the gut microbiome, enabling students to collaborate on a novel research project that dovetails with topics discussed in seminar.
Course Notes
This course fulfills the research seminar requirement for Human Evolutionary Biology. Preference will be given to students fulfilling a research seminar or thesis requirement.
Recommended Prep
Life Sciences 2 or permission of instructor.
Available for Harvard Cross Registration
NOTE: This course requires additional sections; you will be prompted to choose secondary components during the Add to Cart process
