PMB C114 Introduction to Comparative Virology
Professor Andy Jackson
I have taught Comparative Virology (C114) with Loy Volkman for the past ten years. My personal goal is to have a lasting impact on all of the undergraduates who enroll in this course. I want to become acquainted with as many of the students as possible in order to encourage close interactions that will lead to as much interchange about the course material as possible. I am also quite interested in discussing career options and possible academic goals with students who would like advice in these areas.
Comparative Virology gives a comprehensive overview of the chemical, biological and ecological aspects of viruses infecting organisms ranging from bacteria and plants to man. Viruses are ubiquitous agents that have been shown to infect all known classes of living organisms. Some viruses are even parasites of other viruses and are dependent on these viruses for their survival. As a group, viruses comprise an extremely diverse group of agents whose architecture ranges from very small RNA molecules to very large particles containing large DNA genomes surrounded by a core of several proteins wrapped up in complex lipid envelopes. The mechanisms whereby different viruses invade their hosts and exploit normal cellular processes to cause disease is simply astounding, and students taking Comparative Virology have often indicated that the course has provided them with as much about biochemistry and cell biology as about virology. The life styles that viruses have adopted to permit their survival in nature and transmission to other hosts takes advantage of a broad array of ecological factors and in many cases virus infections have been shown to have decisive effects on the survival of endangered species, on public and agricultural health, and on food production. Increasingly as we understand viruses and their complexity, we are learning to exploit their properties for a large number of technological purposes, ranging from environmental and health monitoring, disease control in plants, and animals, as pesticides to control insects and as agents for delivery of drugs and vaccines to prevent health problems. Students taking Comparative Virology often become enticed by these topics and many students have changed their career objectives as a consequence of the course.
I believe Comparative Virology is an essential course for students with interests in of Biology, particularly those intending to enter Medicine, Public Health, Agriculture, and Biotechnology careers. It will provide a valuable background for many different career options by broadening your horizons, increasing your understanding of modern biology and providing you with new perspectives on social issues. I hope to see you in this course next Spring.
Dr. Jackson joined the Berkeley faculty in 1985
Student Evaluations: 6.46 out of 7