About

What are Viral Discovery and Viral Genomics?

Viral Discovery (BIO203, ISAT 165) and Viral Genomics (BIO204, ISAT166) are two courses taught at JMU.  Together, these courses are a year-long experience targeted primarily at entering freshmen, however other students are eligible to enroll.  Both courses are hybrids of traditional lectures and labs, but the emphasis is on learning by doing!

These courses are funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) as part of their new Science Education Alliance (SEA).  JMU is one of the original members of this alliance.  We and the other members of the SEA are part of a national educational experiment aimed at exciting students about science.  We hope you’ll join us and see where this experience takes you. Apply to be a part of it.

What Will I Learn?

These courses follow a single experimental system for the entire academic year.  This means that there is continuity from week to week, month to month, and you will have a chance to get to know a subject in considerable depth.

The first course is called “Viral Discovery” for a reason.  You will have a chance to isolate a previously unknown virus from the environment, grow it in the lab, see it using an electron microscope, and purify its DNA. During the winter break, at least one of our students will have the entire genome of their virus completely sequenced by a sequencing center.

In “Viral Genomics,” we will explore the genome of the virus in detail.  During the semester, we’ll learn how to identify where the genes are in the genome and make hypotheses about what those genes do.  We will also learn about the biology of the virus and how it compares to other viruses that have been previously studied.

If you’re worried that you don’t know enough to succeed in a course like this, relax.  We will assume that the subject matter is new to you, and we’ll teach you everything that you need to know in order to succeed.  All we need from you is a positive attitude, and a willingness to work hard and learn new things about the microscopic world.

Get in Touch!

If you’d like to take the course or just want more information, please contact one of the instructors:

• Dr. Louise Temple (templelm@jmu.edu)
• Dr. Steve Cresawn (cresawsg@jmu.edu)
• Dr. Ron Raab (raabrw@jmu.edu)
• Dr. Stephanie Stockwell (stockwsb@jmu.edu)
• Ms. Crystal Scott (scottwcm@jmu.edu)