Microbiology Biol 250A - 003
Fall 2015
Lecture: T/R 12:15-1:30
Lab Thursday 9:25-12:05
Instructor: Dr. Jeffrey Fischer
Office: Room 204
Phone : (803) 641-3387
e-mail: jefff@usca.edu
Office hours: by appointment
Course Description: Microbiology. (4) (Prereq: (BIOL 242 or 244 with a C or better or EXSC 223 and
CHEM 101) An introduction to bacteria and viruses, emphasizing structure, metabolism, and pathogenesis.
Discussion of infectious diseases, antigen-antibody relationships, and anti-microbial agents in chemotherapy.
Three lecture and three laboratory hours per week. Not available for biology major credit.
Text: Microbiology: An Evolving Science 3rd ed.; Slonczewski, Joan L., Foster, John W., W. W. Norton &
Company
Lab Manual: Lab exercises will be posted online
Supplementary materials: “Photographic Atlas For the Microbiology Laboratory,” Leboffe, Michael J.
Required: A laboratory coat that has full-length sleeves with coverage at least to mid-thigh, and lab glasses.
Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course students will...
• Differentiate between prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms.
• Differentiate among the different classes of microorganisms
• Be familiar with the roles that microorganisms play on this planet.
• Understand the roles of microorganisms in human health and disease
• Have a familiarity with the mechanisms for prevention and treatment of microbial diseases
• Develop personal laboratory technique for handling and identifying microorganisms.
Course structure: Students are expected to utilize the textbook as a major reference to clarify and enhance
the material presented in the lecture session. It is essential that students read the assigned chapters from the
text as this will enhance understanding of the important concepts that are discussed during the lectures.
Laboratories: Laboratory discussions will be presented in the form of a “chalk talk.” Since there is no
formal laboratory manual for this section of the course, note-taking skills will be essential to your success.
Purchase of a lab notebook (3-ring binder with loose leaf paper) is highly recommended, as is the purchase
of the supplemental material suggested above.
Attendance: Attendance is necessary for success in this class! Students are responsible for information
covered during lecture and lab. You will not receive credit for lab assignments/reports when you are
absent from lab during either the initial set-up of the experiment or collection of results. You must be
in attendance both days to receive any credit given to assignments. You must attend the lab section in
which you are enrolled and will not receive lab credit for checking results during a different lab section.
Make-Up Policy: You must take exams at the scheduled times. Failure to take an exam will result in a
grade of zero for that exam, unless the absence was deemed an excused absence.
Excused absence: Absences on the day of exams are only excused in the case of extreme circumstance;
to include a death in the family or personal hospitalization. Absences will only be excused after formal
documentation is provided to the instructor. Students with an excused absence will use the percentage
earned on the final exam to replace the missed exam score (if you earned an 80% on the final, you will have
earned an 80% for the missed exam).
There are no make-up labs: It is the student’s responsibility to read and understand the procedures
covered during the missed lab time. Missed lab reports cannot be completed.
No assignments will be accepted late!
Testing: Each lecture exam will be composed of various types of questions such as multiple choice, truefalse, matching, fill in the blank, short answer. Each exam is worth 100 points. Material for each exam will
be taken from lectures and labs so note-taking skills are essential.
The final exam will be a comprehensive exam covering material from the entire semester. Format will
be similar to lecture exams.
The laboratory exams will be composed of both practical and written sections. The practical sections
will test students on specific skills learned during the labs. The written section will be similar to the lecture
exam format.
Cheating/Plagiarism: Any student caught cheating on an exam will receive the grade of “F” for the
semester.
Plagiarism will not be tolerated in any form. Any material used from outside source must be documented
in the form of a reference. Be sure to write your lab reports in your own words, not the words of you lab
partners.
Classroom Etiquette: Any distractions that may prevent others from learning will not be tolerated.
Be respectful towards each other. All questions and open discussions are important. Ridicule of others
will not be tolerated.
Be respectful of the instructor. Raise your hand if you have a question or comment. Please refrain from
talking with neighbors during lectures and discussions.
Be respectful of all laboratory equipment. Horse-play in the lab setting will not be tolerated.
All cell phones must be turned off during class lectures. Any use of the cell phone (texting,e-mail) will
not be tolerated
All laptops must be only used for taking notes during class.
Course Grading:
Lecture Exams (100 pts ea.)
300
Final Comprehensive Exam
150
Lab Exam 1
100
Lab Exam 2
100
Lab Reports/Quizzes*
100
Total
750
*There will be more than 100 points that can be earned from lab reports/quizzes. This is an added bonus if
you complete all labs. There are no make-up labs
Exam Dates:
Lecture Exam 1
Lecture Exam 2
Lecture Exam 3
Lab Exam 1
Lab Exam 2
Final Lecture Exam
Tuesday, September, 15th
Tuesday, October 13th
Tuesday, November 10th
Thursday, October 8th
Thursday, December 3rd
Tuesday, December 8th, 11:00 AM
Moodle/Blackboard/Banner will be used to post all power point lectures, laboratory exercises, additional
handouts, and grades for assignments received and exams completed. Please become familiar with this
program. You are expected to print off all laboratory assignments and have them with you for class.
This schedule is tentative, and will change at the instructors discretion.
Microbiology Laboratory Schedule Fall 2015
8/27
9/3
9/10
9/17
9/24
10/1
10/8
10/15
10/22
10/29
11/5
11/12
11/19
11/26
12/3
Lab Orientation/Safety; Lab 1 Handwashing Experiment
Lab 2 Aseptic Technique & Streaking for Isolation; Culture Characteristics;
Lab 1 Results – Handwashing Exp.; Turn in Lab 1 Report (10pts)
Lab 3 Microscopy; Lab 2 & Culture Characteristics Results; Turn in Lab 2 &
Culture Characteristics Report (10 pts)
Lab 4 Smear Preparation & Simple Stain –Bacterial Shapes and Arrangement
Lab 5 Gram Stain; Turn in Lab 3 (10 pts)
Lab 6 Acid-Fast/Endospore Stain; Turn in Lab 4 & 5 Report (20pts)
Lab 7 Other Stains; Turn in Lab 6 & 7 Report (20 pts)
Review of Microscopy and Bacterial Staining Procedures – Work Day
Lab Exam 1; Unknown organism staining
Fall Break – No Class
Lab 9 Serial Dilutions (The Hamburger Incident)
Lab 10 Selective & Differential Media; Lab 11 Biochemical Tests Part I
Lab 9 results; Turn in Lab 9 (10 pts)
Lab 11 Biochemical Tests Part II
Lab 10 & 11 part I Results
Lab 13 Physical Agents of Control
Lab 14 Chemical Agents of Control
Lab 11 part II Results; Turn in Lab 11 & 12 Reports (20 pts)
Lab 8 Fungal Biology; Collect Results from Lab 13 & 14; Turn In Lab 13 &
14 (20 pts)
Thanksgiving – No Class
Final Lab Exam