For thousands of years, even long before they were known to exist, microorganisms have been employed by humans to produce and preserve food and to protect human health. Today, knowledge of the biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology of microorganisms has accelerated the development of new and improved biological products and processes. In this course we will examine the production and application of microbial biotechnology products that can solve problems in agriculture, medicine, industry, and the environment.  This will include an exploration of the economic, social, and safety concerns associated with the commercialization of these products.