Massasoit Community College

Biology Department

Microbiology Syllabus – Biol 231-01

Fall 2003

 

INSTRUCTOR:         Debra St. George

OFFICE:                     s-323

TELEPHONE:           508-588-9100, Ext. 1617

E-MAIL:                    dstgeorge@massasoit.mass.edu

OFFICE HOURS:      Monday and Wednesday 9:00-9:45 a.m.

                                    or by appointment

 

texts:

 

Microbiology, An Introduction, 8th edition; Tortora, E., Funke, B. and Case, C. 2001.  San Francisco; Benjamin Cummings Publishing Co., Inc.

 

Lab Manual:  Microbiology, A Photographic Atlas for the Laboratory, Alexander, S. and Strete, D. 2001.  San Francisco:  Benjamin Cummings Publishing Co., Inc.

 

Study Guide:  To accompany text, (optional)     chemistry Review Book (optional)

 

MATERIALS: 

                         

1.  Notebook to take notes and keep assignments and/or handouts.

2.  Composition book, pages attached (sewn in and numbered), at least 100 leaves.

3.  Red and blue pen and pencil.  Please bring to lab and store in your draw.

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

 

This is a course in general microbiology with emphasis placed on the practical applications for medical, food, dairy, water, and environmental microbiology.  Part of the laboratory experience includes an introduction to techniques in molecular biology and the identification of one or more bacterial “unknowns” to demonstrate adequate knowledge of the proper laboratory technique.  Organisms of discussion include bacterial, viruses,           fungi, and some of the primitive algae, metabolism, microbial growth, control of microbial growth, and microbial genetics are also introduced.

4 credits

 

Prerequisite:  Grade of “C-” or better in Biological Principles (31121) or successful performance on departmental challenge exam, and Preparing for College Reading II (11092), Introductory Writing (11099), and Fundamentals of mathematics (38010), or waiver by placement testing results, or Departmental approval.  Chemistry is recommended but not required.

 

TEACHING PROCEDURE:

 

Teaching will be done as a combination of formal lecture with aid of overhead transparencies, discussion and demonstration of techniques in the laboratory portion of the course.

 

 

 

MICROBIOLOGY Syllabus – 31231                                                                                     Page 2

Prof. St. George

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

 

1.  Provide solid introduction to microbiological principles upon which the student may build.

2.  Develop skills necessary to function in a microbiology laboratory.

3.  Demonstrate problem solving ability and the capability to locate helpful resources when needed.

4.  Address topic objectives listed in the text.

 

 

 

EVALUATION:

 

               Comprehensive final exam....................................................    20%

               Three (3) Section Exams.......................................................    40%

               Laboratory Unknowns...........................................................    20%

               Aseptic Technique, Attendance, Punctuality,

                Equipment Usage Evaluation.................................................    10%

               Lab Reports and Log.............................................................    10%

 

 

GRADING:

 

A  = 100-93                              B+ = 89-87                   C+ = 79-77                   D+ = 69-67

A- = 92-90                                B   = 86-83                   C   = 76-73                   D   = 66-63

                                                B-  = 82-80                   C-  = 72-70                   D-  = 62-60

F = 59 or below

 

 

COURSE POLICIES:

 

1.   Make-up exams will be given at the discretion of the instructor and at a time that is mutually convenient for the instructor and the student.  Due to the sequential nature of this class, make-ups should be completed within one week.

 

2.   Students are expected to attend all class meetings on time.  There will be three (3) hours of unexcused absences allowed in this course.  Any absences above the three (3) hours could result in a lowering of the student’s final grade.  Attendance will be taken at the start of each class session.  Punctuality and absences will be recorded.  It is the student’s responsibility to make up any missed work.

 

3.   Lab work is an integral part of the course.  Students must do the lab work in class to get credit for it.  Lab work passed in late could result in a lower grade.

 

4.   Please do not disrupt class with cell phones or beepers.  If necessary, please keep them on vibrate or display and take calls outside class.

                                                     

 


Microbiology (Biol 231-01) Course Outline

 

Week Of

Week #

Topic

Test

Book Chapter

9/03

1

Introduction and History

Survey, Microscopy

 

1, 3 TFC

9/08

2

Chemical Principles,

Prokaryotes

 

2, 4 TFC

9/15

3

Eukaryotes

Fungi/Algae

Mycobacteria

 

4,13 TFC

9/22

4

Parasitology

 

12 pgs 356-363 & 349-356

23 pgs 647-649

25 pgs 706-707 & 708-712

9/29

5

Gram Stain

Media

Culturing Bacteria

Test

3, 6 TFC

10/6

6

Gram Positive Biochemicals

Gram Negative Biochemicals

 

5 AS

10/13

7

Classification

Viruses

 

10, 13 TFC

10/20

8

Metabolism

 

5 TFC

10/27

9

Bacteria & Arcgaea

 

11 TFC

11/3

10

Microbial Genetics

Test

8 TFC

11/10

11

Microbial Genetics

Recombinant DNA

 

8, 9 TFC

11/17

12

Recombinant DNA

Antibiotics

 

9, 20 TFC

11/24

13

Antibiotics

API

 

20 TFC

Handout

12/1

14

Chemical Control of Microorganisms

Test

7 TFC

12/8

15

Principles of Disease

 

24 TFC

12/15

16

Microbial Pathogens

 

9 AS

TCF = Totora, Funke, Case

AS = Alexander, Strete

Laboratory Schedule

 

Week of
Week #
Topic

9/03

1

Safety

Record Keeping

9/08

2

Hand Washing Experiment

Wet Preps

9/15

3

Wet Preps

Fixed Smears

Acid Fast Stain

9/22

4

Protozoa

Helminths

9/29

5

Broth Gram Stain

Sub Culture

Colonial Morphology

10/6

6

Broth Gram Stain

Sub Culture

Set-Up & Read Gram Positive Biochemicals

10/13

7

Set-Up & Read Gram Negative Biochemicals

10/20

8

Unknowns

10/27

9

Unknowns

11/3

10

Unknowns

11/10

11

Complete Unknowns

Bacterial Transformation

11/17

12

Spore Stain

Kirby Bauer Sensitivity 

11/24

13

Set-Up & Read API

12/1

14

Set-Up & Read Exposure Plates

12/8

15

Media Preparation

12/15

16

Make-Up day