BIO251: Introduction to Microbiology
Syllabus—Summer 2015 (4 credits)
University of Wisconsin-Marshfield/Wood County
Instructor:
Jeff Fritz, Ph.D.
Office: L-201B (office hours after class)
Phone: 715-384-1712 (Office) 715-443-2427 (Texts only)
Email: jeffery.fritz@uwc.edu (the best way to leave messages)
Location:
Lecture: Rm 201 M, T, W, Th: 8:30 am -11:00 am
Lab: Rm 201 M, T, W, Th: after lecture
Text:
Microbiology, An Introduction, 12th ed.; Tortora, Funke, and Case
(Pearson/Benjamin Cummings) ISBN-10: 0-321-92915-2
Webpage:
Desire-2-Learn: https://d2l.uwc.edu/ Use your campus username and password.
Description:
This 4-credit course consists of 16 hours of lecture and laboratory each week. The
lectures will give background in the study of microorganisms and the general nature of
the microscopic world. The first part of the course will focus on fundamentals of
microbiology. The second part will be a survey of the microbial world: bacteria, viruses,
fungi, and algae. The third part of the course will focus on the interactions between
microbes and their host. The fourth section will center around microorganisms and
human diseases. The labs will give experience in identification, cultivation, and control of
bacteria.
Objectives:
1) To provide a basic exposure of the general principles of microbiology which greatly
influence many other areas of biology, medicine, public health, and nature.
2) To increase the student's awareness of the positive and negative aspects of the
microbial populations.
3) To familiarize the student with skills necessary to work with and handle
microorganisms in a clinical, research or industrial laboratory environment.
4) To analyze, synthesize, evaluate and interpret information and ideas.
Attendance:
Students are expected to attend all lectures/discussions and laboratory sessions.
Attendance will be monitored. If you are not able to attend the lab for a given period,
please contact the instructor in advance. Materials for some labs may be saved for a few
days but there is no guarantee, especially since some cultures will only be ready for the
assigned lab period. Please arrive on time to receive all of the instructions. Failure to do
so may result in loss of points.
Grades:
Course grades will be determined as follows:
500 pts Exams
100 pts Lab Summary Report
100 pts Research Paper
A
94-100%
C+
77-79%
A90-93%
C
74-76%
B+
87-89%
C70-73%
B
84-86%
D
60-69%
700 pts Total
B80-83%
F
<60%
Four exams will be given. If you cannot take an exam during the scheduled time because
of an excused absence or illness, you must inform the instructor prior (if possible) to the
exam period AND send an email confirming your absence with details of when you will be
back so that arrangements can be made for a make-up.
An understanding of concepts and principles beyond simple memorization of facts is
necessary and should be the focus of study efforts.
Disability:
If you have a disability which requires the instructor’s attention, please contact Student
Services and inform the instructor within the first week of class.
Policies:
All policies of the University will be followed regarding academic honesty, schedules,
examinations, etc. Please refer to http://www.uwc.edu/student_services/student_R&R.asp
Laboratory:
The laboratory exercises for Microbiology are designed to encourage development of
your scientific inquiry skills as well as technical skills. Some of the exercises will be done
in groups, most in pairs. You should look at your results and complete a lab follow-up for
all exercises whether you did the work or had it reported to you by others in the group.
You should plan on taking an active role in the completion of the work. Even if you are
working in groups, you should have a thorough understanding of what is being done and
participate in doing it. Make sure you observe the results from your experiments. Failure
to do so may result in loss of points on your lab follow-up. Observations do not need to
be done as a group.
Lab Manual:
The Lab Manual is available on D2LContents. The exercises should be printed off in
advance of the lab period. Keep these in a small 3-ring binder along with your lab notes,
calculations, and raw data. Make notes of your work as you do it. For example, if a
portion of an experiment needs to be timed, record the beginning time in your notes so
that if distracted you will know when to stop. It is wise even to write down any
calculations used to make solutions or perform the work. Make note of any suggestions
or cautions given during the beginning of the period.
Lab Reports: In lieu of a written lab report, an online evaluation will be available after the completion
of each laboratory exercise. By taking careful notes of the procedures and results, you
will have the information available to answer the questions on the online evaluations.
BIO251 Summer 2013 Schedule:
Day Date
Topics
M
6 Jul Historical
T
7 Jul Cells-Prokaryotic/Eukaryotic
W
8 Jul Growth and Control
Th
9 Jul Classification
Labs
Aseptic Technique
Transfer of Bacteria
Microscopy/Staining
Gram Stain
M
T
W
Th
13 Jul
14 Jul
15-Jul
16-Jul
Exam1 100pts Prokaryotes
Eukaryotic Microbes
Viruses
Principles of Disease/Pathogenesis
No Lab
Serial Dilutions
Temperature Control
Fungi
M
T
W
Th
20-Jul
21-Jul
22-Jul
23-Jul
Exam2 100pts Innate Def.
Specific Defenses
Specific Defenses
Immune disorders/Diagnostics
N lab
Food Exploration
Research Summary Project
Research Summary Project
M
T
W
Th
27-Jul
28-Jul
29-Jul
30-Jul
Exam3 100 pts Diseases: Skin/Nervous
Diseases: Nervous/Cardiovascular
Diseases: Respiratory/Digestive
Diseases: Digestive/Genitourinary
No Lab
Research Summary Project
Research Summary Project
Research Summary Project
M
T
W
Th
5-Aug
6-Aug
7-Aug
8-Aug
Exam4 100 pts Individual work on Diseases
Individual work on Diseases
Individual work on Diseases
Exam5 100 pts
No Lab
Complete Research Project
Research and Lab Papers Due