General Microbiology
BIO 442
Dr. William Coleman
MW 5:30-6:50 Dana 344 M, 453 W
Laboratory 7:00 - 8:15 D 349 Dana 377 x4533
wcoleman@mail.hartford.edu

Date
  Topics Assignments*
       
9/2   Introduction  Microbiology: Dynamics and Diversity, 2/e
       
9/7**   The Scope of Microbiology 1 Introduction
9/9     2 History
       
9/14     3 Chemistry
9/16   Nutrition and Growth 4 Structure and Function
       
9/21**     5 Nutrition, Isolation, Culture
9/23     6 Growth
       
9/28     7 Control of Growth
9/30**     EXAMINATION I
       
10/5**   Microbial Metabolism 8 Chemical Energy
10/7     9 Photochemical Energy
       
10/12     10 Biosynthesis
10/14**     11 Assembly
      12 Biodegradation
10/19   Genetics and Virology 13 Basic Genetics
10/21**     14 Viruses
       
10/26     15 Genetic Exchange
10/28     16 Genetic Engineering
       
11/2      
11/4   EXAMINATION II  
       
11/9   Evolution and Diversity 17 Taxonomy
11/11     18 Evolution
       
11/16     Parts of 19 and 20 Heterotrophs
11/18     Parts of 21 and 22 Photosynths, Extremophiles
       
11/23     23 Eukaryotic microorganisms
11/25     Thanksgiving Recess
     
11/30   Ecology 24 Ecology
12/2      
      25 Beneficial symbioses
12/7   Applied Microbiology 32 Industrial microbiology
12/9     33 Environmental microbiology
12/14     Summary

Final Examination: Wednesday, December 17 at 5:30 in Dana 453.
* Chapter Assignments in Perry, J. And Staley, J.,"Microbiology: Dynamics and Diversity", Saunders, Philadelphia, 1997.
**These dates are religious or holiday observance days.


-General Microbiology Laboratory

DATE
  Manual*** Assignments   Topics
         
9/2   Introduction/Safety/Field Trip/Your Isolate    
9/7**   Labs 1,2,3   Microscopy
9/9        
9/14   Labs 14 and 15; start 17   Select Group Projects
9/16   Computer Uses: Internet, Presentation, Programs   Winogradsky column
9/21**   Labs 11, 12, 18   Stock cultures, Media Preparation
9/23       Anaerobic cultures
9/28   Lab 16   Nutrition, Plate counts
9/30**       Selective and Differential Media
10/5**   Labs 55, 56, and 57   Algae, Fungi, and Protozoa
10/7        
10/12   Labs 5, 6, 7, 8 , 9 and 10   Stains: Simple, Gram, Structural
10/14   Labs 19 and 20   Obligate anaerobic S reducers
10/19        
10/21**   Continue working on group projects   Thiobacillus thiooxidans
10/26   Labs 21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26   Biochemical characterizations
10/28   Computer Program: "Identibacter interactus"   Use of computer for identification
11/2   Labs 27, 28, 29, 30, 31   Continue biochemical characterizations
11/4        
11/9   Labs 32, 33, 34, 35   Continue biochemical characterizations
11/11        
11/16   Labs 44 and 45   Kirby-Bauer antibiotic assessment
11/18       Testing disinfectants and antiseptics
11/23   Labs 50, 51 or 52   Microbiology of Food
11/25       Microbiology of Soil
11/30   Labs 60, 61, 62    
    Bacterial Genetics    
12/2   Lab 64 (and Handout)   Acinetobacter transformation
12/7   Lab 58 or 59   Bacteriophages
12/9        
12/14       Poster Presentations of Group Projects

*** Labs reference: Stukus, P., "Investigating Microbiology, a laboratory manual for general microbiology


Course Goals:

The study of microbiology examines a large and diverse group of organisms that exist as single cells or cell clusters. This study has a central role in basic biological science , and it is essential for an understanding of the biology of higher organisms, even including humans. Microbiology is, in addition, an applied biological science, with roots in mankind’s understanding of the world about us. This course will examine these areas of microbiology. At the same time, there will be reflected the rapid changes through new developments which have occurred in recent years. Advances in genetic engineering and molecular cloning using microorganisms offer new and powerful research tools to study cell biology and evolution. Keeping with the traditions of applied science, these new developments also provide opportunities for improvements in medicine, animal and plant genetics and environment management.

The microbiology laboratory is designed for your active participation in experimental investigations.

 

Grading: Points:

3 Hour Examinations 300
Laboratory manual 30
Lab reports

1. Characterizing your unknown isolate 30
2. Microbial investigation project (individual report) 10

Poster Presentation of Microbial Exploration Group Project 20
Portfolio 10

Total: 400 points

Format of the laboratory reports:

Purpose
Materials and methods
Observations
Discussion
Conclusion(s)

Style for the research paper/ lab reports:

1. Microbiological Reviews (available in Mortenson Library); Appendix H of Lab manual
2. Use of statistics as described in appendix in the lab manual

Poster presentations will follow a laboratory format and will contain more visual than text materials.

Catch 22? In addition quizzes or take-home papers may be required as needed.

Portfolio of the course contains all study materials as well as class assignments, graded or not. Further, it may contain articles from papers or journals or from the internet which interest you and which you have shared with the class. Notes you have taken from these materials may be included. Examination, study lists or materials used as part of your project preparations may be included. The materials should be organized in a manila folder and should be indexed.

Safety in a microbiology laboratory is legally required. Rules for the proper uses of the microbiology laboratory are found in the laboratory manual. Read these rules and then sign and date it. A shorter list is posted in the laboratory. The initial discussion in the laboratory will describe disposition of biological waste and reminders to wear appropriate dress.

***

"The paramount evolutionary accomplishment of bacteria as a group is rapid, efficient cell growth in many environments. Bacteria grow and divide as rapidly as the environment permits."

-J. L. Ingraham, O. Maaloe and F. F. Neidhardt