Biology 255: Microbiology
Spring 2010
Lecture: 11 am – 12:15 pm Tue/Thu, SSC 143
Lab: 2:00-5:00 pm Wed, SSC 137
Instructor: Dr. Jennifer Brigati
Office location: SSC 106
Office hours: Tue 1:45 – 2:45 pm, Fri 11 am - noon, and by appointment
Email:
Phone: 981-8168
Course Materials:
Required Texts:
1. Bauman, R. 2007. Microbiologywith diseases by taxonomy, 2nd ed. Pearson Education, Inc., CA.
2. Cowan, K. 2002. The microbe files. Pearson Education, Inc., CA.
3. Lab manual – online through - title of your book is “Microbiology Lab”.
Recommended Text:
Pechenik, J.A. 2007. A Short Guide to Writing about Biology. 6th Edition. Longman Publishing Group.
Course Description:
The lecture portion of this course will cover the history of microbiology, the structure, metabolism, growth, and genetics of microorganisms, and the control of microbial growth. It will also explore the diversity of microorganisms, with a special focus on bacteria and viruses. Bacterial and viral culturing and identification techniques will be emphasized in the laboratory.
Course Objectives:
Lecture: Explore the history of microbiology
Review the chemistry and structure of microbial cells
Review microbial genetics
Understand the nutrition and metabolism of bacteria
Understand the challenges of controlling microbial growth in the human
body and the environment
Explore the diversity of the microbial world
Apply knowledge of disease-causing microbes to solve case studies
Gain experience reading and analyzing articles from the primary literature
Gain experience communicating difficult scientific concepts to
non-scientists
Lab:Develop proficiency in basic sterile culture techniques
Visually explore the diversity of the microbial world
Identify unknown bacteria in the lab using selective media and biochemical tests
Gain experience writing scientific reports
Course Policies:
Grading:
Exams (4): 35%
Formal lab reports (2): 20%
Newspaper articles (2): 15%
Lab worksheets/short reports: 15 %
Class participation:10%
Presentation to non-majors:5 %
Exams: closed book; in class (4rd exam cumulative, finals week); a mix of
multiple choice, short answer, essay, and other question styles.
Formal lab reports: Written for two of the laboratory exercises; formatted according to
provided guide.
Newspaper articles: You will write two summary articles for a general audience based on
research papers.
Presentation to non-majors: Students in a science 150 microbiology class will be
providing you with topics they would like to learn more about. Working in pairs,
you will be responsible for preparing a presentation to address the chosen topic.
Presentations will occur during the lunch hours on MWF the last week of class.
Class participation: You will occasionally be asked to perform activities in smallgroups
to facilitate learning concepts and applications of microbiology. Your class participation grade will reflect your attendance and the performance of your group in these exercises.
Lab worksheets/short reports: These are short worksheets from your laboratory
manual that you will hand in after completing lab work that will not be written up in a formal lab report.
Grade Scale:
97-100 A+87-89 B+77-79 C+67-69 D+Below 60 = F
93-96 A83-86 B73-76 C63-66 D
90-92 A-80-82 B-70-72 C-60-62 D-
Final grades are non-negotiable. If you suspect a grading or arithmetic error on an assignment please see me. If you just want me to give you a higher grade because (insert excuse here) don’t waste your time. If you are struggling with the material please see me for help ASAP! Please come to my office hours if you have questions/problems. I assure you that I don’t charbroil, torture, or eat students during office hours.
Attendance/Make ups:
Attendance at all lectures and laboratories is mandatory. Please see me immediately if you are involved in a formal, documented school activity that will force you to miss multiple lectures, any laboratories and/or any exams.
YOU MUST ATTEND THE PRESENTATION SESSIONS ON MONDAY 5/3, WEDNESDAY 5/5, and FRIDAY 5/7 AT NOON. IF THIS IS A PROBLEM SEE ME IMMEDIATELY!
There will be no make-up exams! If you know that you will need to miss an exam because of a formal, documented school activity let me know now and I will try to arrange for you to take the exam early. If you miss an exam for any other reason, your cumulative final exam will count twice. If you score higher on the cumulative final exam than on one of the first three exams it will replace the lowest grade.
Laboratory exercises generally cannot be made up. You are allowed to miss one lab. You must get the data from your lab partner(s) and complete the write-up on your own. Subsequent absences without a really good excuse (documented illness, documented school activity, or death in family) will result in a 50 point reduction on your lab report.
Class Participation cannot be made up! I understand that everyone has to miss class occasionally due to illness or other personal reasons, but if you miss multiple group exercises it will negatively affect your grade.
Deadlines:
Lab reports are due at the beginning of lab as detailed on the lab schedule. Lab reports handed in after the deadline but less than 24 hours late will be docked 10 points (out of 100). Reports will be docked 20 points if they are 24-48 hours late, 30 points if they are 48-72 hours late, etc.
Your first newspaper article is due February 25th. The second article is due April 6th. The same penalties described above apply for handing in these assignments late.
Reading:
You are expected to read the assigned text chapters prior to class. If you don’t keep up with the reading, it will be detrimental to your class participation grade. You will not be assigned homework from the text, but we will use it during problem solving, and exam questions will often be similar to the questions found at the ends of the chapters. Occasionally I will ask you to read a journal article in preparation for a problem solving session, and this reading will be mandatory. I reserve the right to give quizzes (and make them part of your grade) if it becomes clear that no one is doing the reading!
Cheating/Plagiarism:
I have no tolerance for cheating or plagiarism. The Pechenik text gives a detailed description of what constitutes plagiarism and how to avoid it. WORKING TOGETHER ON LAB REPORTS OR OTHER ASSIGNMENTS IS CHEATING. If you are unsure if what you are about to do constitutes cheating or plagiarism, ask me. The first offense of cheating or plagiarism will result in a zero on the assignment, and a letter to the registrar. A second offense will result in a failing grade (F) in the course.
Seeking help from the writing center is NOT cheating, and I strongly encourage this if you struggle with written assignments. Having another student proofread your work is also acceptable and encouraged!
Classroom behavior:
Please turn off all cell phones, blackberries, ipods and other electronic gadgets before class. These items are not allowed in the classroom during exams. If you are late to class please sneak in quietly. Repetitive lateness will not be tolerated. When we work in the computer lab you are to spend your time working on the assignment, not checking your email or updating your Facebook page. If I catch you using the computer for something inappropriate during class time, you will receive a grade of “0” for class participation that day. Disruptive behavior (talking, playing games on your computer, etc.) will not be tolerated. If you engage in disruptive behavior you will be asked to leave and will receive a grade of “zero” for participation that day.
Disabilities:
Please see me if you require classroom or testing accommodations so that we can make appropriate arrangements through the learning center.
TENTATIVE LECTURE AND LABORATORY SCHEDULE
Date / Topic / Text Chapter/Pages / Assignment DueW Jan 27 / Lab: Safety, History of micro assignments
Th Jan 28 / Intro, history of microbiology / Ch 1 / Biography page
Tu Feb 2 / Review of chemistry & cell structure / Ch 2 & 3
W Feb 4 / Lab: Microscopy/diversity of microorganisms / Lab: portions of exercises 1-5
Th Feb 4 / Microscopy & staining / Ch 4
Tu Feb 9 / Metabolism / Ch 5
W Feb 10 / Lab: Microscopy/staining techniques / Lab: exercises 9, 10, 11, 14 / Diversity lab write-up
Th Feb 11 / Metabolism / Ch 5
Tu Feb 16 / Nutrition & growth / Ch 6
W Feb 17 / Culturing bacteria – basic techniques / Lab: exercise 17 / Staining lab write-up
Th Feb 18 / Microbial genetics & recombinant DNA / Ch 7 & 8
Tu Feb 23 / EXAM I / Ch 1-8
W Feb 24 / Lab: Ames test / Lab: exercise 32 / Basic techniques lab write-up
Th Feb 25 / Antimicrobials / Ch 9 / Newspaper Article #1
READING / OVER WEEKEND / Ch 11 & 12
Tu Mar 2 / Antibiotics / Ch 10
W Mar 3 / Lab: Culture characterization / Lab: exercise 18, 50, 53
Th Mar 4 / Infection & Immunity / Ch 14-17 / Ames test lab report
Tu Mar 9 / Infection & Immunity / Ch 14-17
W Mar 10 / Lab: Biochemical tests / Lab: exercise 19 / Culture characterization write-up
Th Mar 11 / Infection & Immunity / Ch 14-17
Mar 15-19 / SPRING BREAK / -----
Tu Mar 23 / Infection & Immunity / Ch 14-17
W Mar 24 / Lab: ID of unknown bacteria / Lab: exercise 20, handouts / Biochemical tests write up
Th Mar 25 / EXAM II / Ch 9-10, 14-17
Tu Mar 30 / Gram positive cocci & bacilli / Ch 19
W Mar 31 / Lab: ID of unknown bacteria
Th Apr 1 / Gram negative cocci & bacilli / Ch 20
Tu Apr 6 / Other pathogenic bacteria / Ch 21 / Newspaper article #2
W Apr 7 / Lab: ID of Unknown bacteria
Th Apr 8 / Fungi / Ch 22
Tu Apr 13 / Protozoa & worms / Ch 23
W Apr 14 / Lab: antibiotics & antimicrobials / Lab: exercises 25, 28, 29
Th Apr 15 / Case studies / Microbe Files
Tu Apr 20 / Exam III
W Apr 21 / Lab: Phage isolation / Lab: exercise 37 / Antibiotics lab write-up
Th Apr 22 / Viruses / Ch 13 / Unknown ID lab report
Tu Apr 27 / Viruses / Ch 13, 24
W Apr 28 / Lab: Phage isolation
Th Apr 29 / Viruses / Ch 24, 25
M May 3 / Presentations 12 – 12:50
Tu May 4 / Prions / Ch 13
W May 5 / No lab –Presentations 12-12:50 / Phage isolation write-up
Th May 6 / Case Studies / Microbe Files
F May 7 / Presentations 12 – 12:50
W May 12th – 9am / Cumulative Exam