BIOL& 260 Microbiology (5 credits)
Distribution Area Fulfilled Natural Sciences with Lab; General Transfer Elective
Prerequisite BIOL& 160 with a minimum grade of 2.0 is required, and CHEM& 139 or CHEM& 121 with a minimum grade of 2.0 is required, or instructor permission.
Course Description
Diversity, structure and physiology of beneficial and harmful microbes. Laboratory practice in identification of microbial species through culturing, staining and biochemical testing. Includes laboratory.
Course Content
A. Brief historical perspective of microbiology
B. Basic chemical principles as applied to microbiology
C. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell characteristics
D. Microscopy and staining techniques
E. Microbial metabolic processes
F. Microbial control methods
G. Microbial growth characteristics and growth media
H. Biotechnologies
I. Characteristics of archaea, bacteria, viruses and microbial eukaryotes
J. Uses and abuses of antimicrobial drugs
K. Microbial genetics
L. Microbes in the environment
Student Outcomes
1. List and describe the contributions made to the field of microbiology by previous scientists.
2. Explain microbial characteristics, metabolism, and processes at the chemical level.
3. Contrast the chemical, structural and physiological characteristics of eukaryotic cells with prokaryotic cells.
4. Explain the origins of organelles.
5. Explain the theory and practice of microscopy and staining techniques.
6. Analyze and evaluate the factors that affect enzymatic activity.
7. Describe the various metabolic processes found in microorganisms and relate these processes to the biochemical tests used for identification of microorganisms.
8. Explain the role of microbial metabolic diversity in environmental processes.
9. Explain the role of quorum sensing in various processes, examples could be nosocomial infections, ruminant digestion, sewage treatment.
10. Describe bacterial replication and vertical and horizontal gene transfer. Describe the role of horizontal gene transfer in microbial evolution including antibiotic resistance.
11. Describe the advantages and disadvantages to asexual and sexual reproduction for eukaryotic microbes.
12. Experimentally determine the temperature ranges for organisms and classify them based upon their temperature ranges.
13. List, describe and experimentally determine the physical and chemical methods used to control microorganisms.
14. List, describe and experimentally determine the physical and chemical requirements for growing microorganisms.
15. List, describe and experimentally perform the techniques used to grow anaerobes in the laboratory.
16. Describe basic biotechnology transformation techniques.
17. List, contrast and describe current bacterial cell identification techniques such as morphological comparison, differential staining, biochemical testing, serology, enterotube, phage typing, amino acid sequencing, protein analysis, and nucleic acid comparisons.
18. List, describe, recognize and contrast the structural and physiological characteristics of archaea, bacteria, viruses, and microbial eukaryotes.
19. Identify a bacterial unknown using morphological and biochemical identification techniques and document the identification process in journal form.
20. Analyze and evaluate the current use of antimicrobial agents in society and develop recommendations for appropriate use of these drugs.
Degree Outcomes
Natural Sciences: Graduates use the scientific method to analyze natural phenomena and acquire skills to evaluate authenticity of data/information relative to the natural world.
Critical, Creative, and Reflective Thinking: Graduates will evaluate, analyze, synthesize, and generate ideas; construct informed, meaningful, and justifiable conclusions; and process feelings, beliefs, biases, strengths, and weaknesses as they relate to their thinking, decisions, and creations.
Lecture Contact Hours 30
Lab Contact Hours 40
Clinical Contact Hours 0
Total Contact Hours 70
Potential Methods
A. Exams:Combination of multiple choice, matching, completion, definition, short answer and essay questions with illustrations.
B. Written Report: Description of activity or concept in an accurate, concise fashion using appropriate, accepted scientific writing format.
C. Instructor Observation: Instructor visually assesses either informally or formally (with a checklist) whether the student has successfully achieved the desirable outcome.
D. Oral Presentation: Presentation of subject concepts through verbal explanation from students either as individuals or as groups.
E. Group Activity: Examination of subject concepts or questions through a formalized group activity requiring active participation of all group members.
F. Laboratory Report: Presentation of laboratory experiment results in a brief written form including laboratory objectives and conclusions.
G. Laboratory Practicum: Use of student demonstration of techniques and student knowledge of actual organisms, scientific equipment and laboratory materials as a means of assessment.
H. Research Paper: Compilation and assessment of information into a formal, lengthy written essay with title page, introduction, body, conclusion and literature-cited section.
I. Article Summaries: Find, analyze and critique current articles about microbial life for accuracy and bias
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