A plan was proposed by MCB Undergraduate Curriculum Committee to remove the in person lab component of MICR*4330 Molecular Virology, in response to budgetary constrains.

            We are passionate about virology. Colossal scientific progress has been and continues to be made from the study of viruses. Allowing future generations of students access to the laboratory methods used to study virology is imperative, now more than ever. 

            Over the last few years, we have seen the SARS-CoV2 global pandemic cripple the economy, ravage public health, and threaten our health care system. The SARS-CoV2 pandemic is far from unique as humanity has suffered multiple viral epidemics and pandemics such as smallpox, Spanish flu, repeated Ebola outbreaks, and more recently HIV/AIDS, West Nile, SARS, 2009 H1N1, and Zika. Thus, the importance of viruses and virology has come to public recognition and become topics of discussion at the dinner table. With alterations to the climate and the ecosystem, more viral outbreaks are expected to emerge. 

            Virology research has taught us the fundamentals of molecular bioscience, our immune system, and medicine. Many fundamental discoveries in biology were made through research using viruses, including DNA replication and regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes (SV40), oncoviruses and their roles in cancer (Nobel prize, Rous 1966), reverse transcriptase (Nobel prize, Baltimore & Temin, 1975), the structure of viruses and other ribonucleoprotein complexes (Nobel prize, Klug 1982), RNA splicing (Nobel prize, Sharp & Roberts 1993), recognition of virus-infected cells by MHC (Nobel prize, Doherty & Zinkernagel 1996), HIV causing AIDS (Nobel prize, Montagnier & Barrie-Sinoussi 2008), HPV as the cause of cervical cancer (Nobel prize zur Hausen 2008), among many others. The contributions of virology to life science and medicine have brought virology to the forefront of the medical and scientific communities. They have also prompted a great interest in virology among past, present and future students. 

            MICR*4330 (Molecular Virology) has seen a major increase in enrollment in recent years, and it has become one of the most popular 4th year courses offered in MCB. The lab component of the course provides students with a unique opportunity to learn some of the most essential lab protocols that are used in industry and research, including hemagglutination, egg inoculation with viruses, agro-infiltration of infectious viral clones, viral symptom observation, RT-PCR, gene cloning and phylogenetics. These skills are essential for students interested in pursuing a career or advanced studies in virology and many related fields. 

            We believe that removing the lab component of the course will not only be a major disservice to our students but also diminishes undergraduate programs in MCB and the University of Guelph. Without hands-on experience, students will not be able to gain a deep understanding and appreciation for what they learn in lectures about virology and bioscience. The lab activities have allowed students to apply what they have learned in the classroom to real-world situations, making the course relevant and engaging. Lab activities also serve as opportunities for students to interact, communicate, and engage in group activities. 

            For the reasons stated above, we urge the committee to reconsider the long-term detriment of the plan to remove labs from the current MICR*4330 Molecular Virology curriculum. The heightened awareness in the public toward the importance of viruses and their impact on public health, the economy, and society offers the university a golden opportunity to further strengthen virology courses, not to diminish them. We believe that the discontinuation of virology labs would be big mistake and a step backwards in providing our students with the highest quality education and preparation for their future. 

            We implore the MCB Undergraduate Curriculum Committee not to remove the lab component from MICR*4330 Molecular Virology.