NS 4200 Diet and the microbiome for 3 credits, is offered during the spring semester every year.
Instructor: Dr. A. Poole
All colleges and majors welcome.
Required prerequisites: Junior, senior, graduate enrollment status. One semester introductory biology lecture (e.g. BIOMG 1350) and one semester introductory chemistry (e.g. CHEM 2070).
Recommended prerequisites: Microbiology (e.g. BIOMI 2900) and introductory statistics (e.g. STSCI 2150, PAM 2100, AEM 2100, or equivalent).
Course description: In this course, students will acquire a present-day overview of the reported effects of diet on the microbiome with an emphasis on host physiology outcomes. The microbiome field is rapidly evolving, and this course has no textbook; we will mainly be assessing primary literature and scientific reviews. Students will learn to critically analyze the conclusions drawn from microbiome studies to empower them to make informed judgements as new research findings are reported.
Class format: The format of this class is based on engaged learning. At least half of this course is flipped; there are not many formal lectures. If you hate active learning, NS 4200 may not be the best course for you. Prior to class, you will have been given a reading or written assignment. There will almost always be in-class discussion and/or activities counting toward your grade.
Learning objectives and outcomes:
- Engage in conversation using terms and techniques in the microbiome field
- Identify strengths, limits, and confounding factors in studies addressing diet:microbiome associations
- Assess the relevance of correlations between dietary intake, gut microbes, and physiological status
- Design a study to address a question
- Articulate good arguments to support your decisions regarding scientific issues
- Present technical information clearly
Assessment and evaluation:
| ASSESSMENT | PERCENT OF GRADE |
| In class assignments/activities/quizzes | 10% |
| Thought questions and homework | 15% |
| Shark Tank proposal | 20% |
| Preliminary examination | 30% |
| Group presentations | 15% |
| Attendance | 10% |
Course evaluation feedback
In Spring 2021, the students gave this course an overall score of 4.8 / 5. The average overall rating for the instructor, Dr. Poole, was also 4.8 / 5.
In the anonymous online course evaluation survey, the students are asked, “What advice would you give someone trying to decide whether to take the class?” Here are some of the responses:
NS 4200 Spring 2021:
Take it!! It’s a different style of course than what you likely typically see. More time in class working and learning, more interactive assignments and working with other people, less memorizing and regurgitating information.
Be prepared to think creatively and apply information, rather than memorize it. Start all assignments early because there aren’t too many assignments, but the ones you have take a good amount of time.
It is not like a typical lecture-style class at all. You need to be ready to be engaged in class.
Do it! Its great and I really learned everything from basics in R to microbiome studies that can be applied on my other biology classes. I think its a great class to take if you are a biology major and interested in microbiology in any way.
NS4200 teaches you how to think and critique experiments related to the microbiome. It is a great class to talk about doing good science with the microbiome being a topic to center discussion.
Be prepared to actively participate in class. While there were traditional lectures given I feel like the majority of the class was based on learning how to argue and discuss certain opinions.
NS 4200 Spring 2019:
Take it if you’re interested in the topic, otherwise the readings will be overwhelming
Understand that it is very group work focused, and involves a lot of learning through primary literature. A very hands-on course.
If you’re curious about the subject and want to gain more familiarity with analyzing scientific papers, this course is a great opportunity to learn more. It involves more in class question activities than lectures, so consider that with your learning style.
Please take this class,even if you have no interest in microbiome at least you will learn how to read scientific papers and critically think about them. Especially if you have yet to take the MCAt take this class
Take the course if you want a good introduction to the field of microbiome research and want to expand upon your analytical and evaluative skills when reading primary scientific literature
Don’t miss the first lecture