What is Microbiology and How is it Different Than Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Genetics?
Examining various microorganisms and their impact on our bodies and society is one of the most fascinating aspects of studying microbiology. At UF, our online master’s degree delves into microbiology and several of its subsects to provide you with a comprehensive study of the field.
- Microbiology – Understanding how microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, algae, etc.) evolve and interact within their environments is the major responsibility of a microbiologist. Microbiologists develop vaccines that prevent us from deadly microbes, including smallpox. While the deadliest microbes garner a lot of attention, most microbes are beneficial to humans. One example includes yeast, which is used to make some of our favorite foods and beverages, including pizza and beer.
- Biochemistry – Studying the chemical processes that occur within living organisms is the main task of a biochemist. If you take a medication without experiencing side effects, it is because a team of biochemists studied how the medication interacts with our bodies, found the ideal storage method and conducted tests to understand the stability of the drug compound.
- Molecular Biology – Combining elements of biology, chemistry and mathematics, molecular biologists research and study molecules to understand cell function and organization. Focusing on DNA, RNA and other proteins, molecular biologists routinely conduct experiments to find cures to diseases.
- Genetics – Learning how a parent passes physical traits or diseases to their offspring is a main component of studying genetics. Geneticists use their educational background to develop disease prevention methods by exploring why some people are naturally immune to those diseases.
Our master’s degree in microbiology includes courses covering all the subjects above, providing a broad and comprehensive understanding of microbiology and its subsets. These courses include:
- BCH 5413 – Mammalian Molecular Biology and Genetics: Understand modern molecular, biochemical and genetic approaches and solve programs of current interest in molecular biology.
- MCB 5252 – Microbiology, Immunology, and Basis for Immuno-therapeutics: Learn microbial structure and function with regards to their role in pathogenesis and infection.
- GMS 5905 – Fundamentals of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: Examine the structure, function and metabolism of amino acids, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids.
Additionally, our program offers a variety of electives that are tailored to more specialized topics, including biotechnology, prokaryotic diversity and metabolic regulation.
