WIDENER UNIVERSITY
BIOLOGY 220 – MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY
COURSE POLICY & SYLLABUS – SPRING 2007
Instructors Marc A. Brodkin, Ph.D. Frances E. Weaver, Ph.D. Doris Politz M.S.
Office Kirkbride 406 Kirkbride 423A Kirkbride 308
Phone 499-4029 499-4519 499-4320
Office Hours Posted on my office door
Text: Alfred Brown, Benson’s Microbiological Applications, Complete Version, Tenth Edition
Materials: Students must obtain a laboratory coat to be worn during each session. Students will be assigned a microscope, equipment drawer, and seat number. Students are responsible for the condition of their assigned microscopes and drawers.
Rules: Follow the safeguards listed in the Laboratory Protocol on pages ix - xi of the laboratory manual. A handout describing how to aseptically handle bacterial cultures will be distributed. These procedures are necessary to prevent the contamination of students as well as cultures. Attendance is mandatory for each laboratory session. Anyone who misses a laboratory for a non-verifiable reason will receive a grade of zero for any missed work. Three or more unexcused absences from laboratory will result in a grade of F for the course. Legitimately missed sessions will be made up at a time convenient to the instructor and student.
Grades: Laboratory grades will be determined as follows:
Laboratory Performance 15%
Unknown #1 25%
Unknown #2 30%
Final Exam 30%
Attendance, homework, and technique will determine the laboratory performance grade. The final exam will be a comprehensive multiple-choice exam given during the final exam week. The plus/minus grading system will not be used.
The Science Division strictly enforces the University policy on academic integrity as stated in the Student Handbook. Please read this section of the Student Handbook.
LABORATORY SCHEDULE – SPRING 2007
1 / Jan. 15 / 1 Brightfield Microscopy
2, 3 Darkfield and Phase-Contrast Microscopy (Demonstration)
6, 7 Survey of Microorganisms
2 / Jan. 22 / 8 Fungi
9 Aseptic Technique
11 Smear Preparation
12 Simple Stain / 7
3 / Jan. 29 / 5 Microscopic Measurements
13 Negative Staining
15 Gram Staining / 8, 9
4 / Feb. 5 / 18 Motility Determination
Review Gram Stain / 15
5 / Feb. 12 / 16 Spore Staining: Two Methods
19 Culture Media Preparation (Handout) / 18
6 / Feb. 19 / 10 Pure Culture Techniques
Review for Unknown / 19
7 / Feb. 26 / UNKNOWN #1 / 10
MID-TERM BREAK / March 5-9 / MID-TERM BREAK / MID-TERM BREAK
8 / March 12 / 30 Temperature: Lethal Effects
33 Ultraviolet Light: Lethal Effects
35 Evaluation of Alcohol
36 Antimicrobic Sensitivity Testing
60 Bacterial Counts of Foods (Time permitting) / 10
9 / March 19 / See Next Column / 30,33,35,36,60
10 / March 26 / BEGIN UNKNOWN #2
20 Preparation and Care of Stock Cultures
39 Morphological Study of Unknown
40 Cultural Characteristics
25 Determination of Bacteriophge Titer (Handout)
11 / April 2 / 41 Physiological Characteristics: Biooxidations
42 Physiological Characteristics: Hydrolysis
43 Physiological Characteristics: Biochemical Tests
46 Enterobacteriaceae: The Enterotube II System / 20, 39, 40, and 25
12 / April 9 / 44 Use of Bergey’s Manual
70 The Staphylococci: Isolation and Identification
71 The Streptococci: Isolation and Identification: / 41-43, 46
13 / April 16 / Urinary Tract Pathogens - Handout / 70,71
14 / April 23 / UNKNOWN # 2 DUE
74 Slide Agglutination (Latex) Test / Urinary Tract Pathogens
15 / May 4-9 / Biology 220 Comprehensive Final Exam