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OCEA 252Field and Lab Methods in Aquatic Molecular Ecology

5 creditsGraduateStudent Option

Introduction to molecular and bioinformatic techniques used to investigate aquatic microbiomes. Students learn how to collect field samples for molecular analyses at the Younger Lagoon and Santa Cruz Wharf. Using fundamental techniques in modern molecular microbial ecology including metabarcoding, DNA sequencing (including real-time), quantitative PCR, fluorescent in situ hybridizations, and flow cytometry, students characterize microbial assemblages and investigate microbial activity in two very different field sites. Students gain hands-on experience processing sequence and imaging data and analyzing microbial community variability over seasonal and interannual cycles.

Prerequisites

Enrollment is restricted to graduate students.

Find a section and add it to your scheduleLive seat counts, time-conflict checks and the walk from your previous class.

When it runs

Winter 2027Open Winter 2027

SectionTypeWhenWhereInstructorSeats
01Field Studies
Mon Wed 12:00pm–3:00pm
Earth&Marine D266K. Turk-KuboOpen 0/25

Winter 2026Open Winter 2026

SectionTypeWhenWhereInstructorSeats
01Field Studies
Mon Wed 1:00pm–4:00pm
Earth&Marine D266K. Turk-KuboOpen 8/25

Who teaches it

InstructorRatingDifficultyWould take againReviews
Kendra Turk-Kubo4.0 / 52.5 / 586%6

From RateMyProfessors, which is student-submitted and not a survey. Small review counts move a long way on one bad quarter.

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