What is Astrobiology?
Astrobiology is the study of the origin, distribution, and evolution of life. Astrobiology aims to understand the fundamental nature of life of Earth and examine the possibility of life elsewhere in the universe.
Astrobiology MCB 3703
Course Objectives:
The goals of this course are to expose and familiarize students with the following:
1) The nature of science and the scientific method in Astrobiology.
- What are the processes of science?
- What skills are required for working in science?
- How does science apply to everyday life and the study of Astrobiology?
2) Fundamental concepts of Astrobiology and its application
- What are the biochemical and genetic processes required for the origin and evolution of life?
- What are the environmental limitations of life within the universe?
- Does life exist elsewhere in the universe?
- What is the future of life on Earth and beyond?
By the end of this course students should be able to:
- Apply the scientific method to problems in Astrobiology
- Understand important concepts and experimental approaches in Astrobiology
Lecture Outline:
The topical outline for Astrobiology MCB 3703 lectures at the University of Florida
Syllabus for MCB 3703:
The course syllabus that includes assignments, grading scale, and University of Florida academic policies.
Astrobiology Podcasting:
One third of all lectures are generated as podcasts and provided to the students via an online course management system.
