NSC Biology 260: General Microbiology
Fall, 2014 Syllabus
Lecture/Labs: Tuesday/Thursday, 6-9.20pm
Instructor: Christopher Thor
Email: Christopher.Thor@seattlecolleges.com
Phone: 206.934.7050 (For emergencies: 360.770.2019)
Office Hours: By appointment
Office Location: HS-2641-B
Course Website: http://facweb.northseattle.edu/cthor/
Required Matierials:
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Microbiology, A Human Perspective (7th Edition). E. Nester, D. Anderson, C. Evans
Roberts and M. Nester. McGraw-Hill Publishers, 2012. ISBN: 9780077573645
Microbiology Experiments: A Health Science Perspective, 7th Edition. J. Kleyn, M.
Bicknell and A. Oller. C. Brown Publishers, 2012. ISBN: 9780077315542
4 Scantrons and #2 Pencils
Extrafine Sharpie (for marking Petri Plates)
Hairband for long hair (we use Bunsen Burners and burning hair smells)
Canvas Access
Optional: A Photographic Atlas for the Microbiology Laboratory, 4th ed., Michael
Leboffe and Burton Pierce. Morton Publishers 2011.
Course Objectives:
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Perform routine bacteriological practices and microbial laboratory techniques
Develop an understanding of current microbiology ideas and practices
Develop an understanding of the role and function of bacteria in the environment
Relate the characteristics of bacteria to diseases and their various treatments
My hopes for you in this class:
1. That you will build a solid foundation of molecular biological principles that you can
apply in your future career and in the real world
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2. That you begin to think critically and question the world around you. Does what you’re
hearing make sense with what you know?
3. That you learn to identify quality sources for scientific information – there is a great
deal of bad information out there.
“Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.” -Carl Sagan.
Class Schedule:
Week 1
Date
Tuesday, 9/23
Thursday, 9/25
Week 2
Week 3
Lecture
Microbial
World, Ch.1
Cell Structure
Ch. 3
Tuesday, 9/30
Microbial
Metabolism
Ch. 6
Thursday, 10/2
Microbial
Growth, Ch. 4
Tuesday, 10/7
Food
Microbiology
Ch. 24
Food Micro (2)
Ch. 31
Thursday, 10/9
Week 4
Tuesday, 10/14
Thursday, 10/16
Week 5
Tuesday, 10/21
Microbial
Genetics (1)
Ch. 7, 8
Microbial
Genetics (2)
Viruses
Ch. 13, 8
Lab
Ex. 3 – Microscope
Due
Ex. 5 – Simple Staining
Ex. 1 – Ubiquity of
organisms
Ex. 6 –
Differentia/special
Stains
Ex. 1 Results
Ex. 2 – Pure Culture
Ex. 7 – Defined,
Undefined
Ex. 9 –
Aerobic/Anaerobic
Ex. 2&7 Results
HW 1, Ex. 3
Ex. 8 – Quantitation
Ex. 9 Results
Ex. 12 – Radiation
Ex. 8 Results
Exam 1
Ex. 5
HW 2, Ex. 1, 6
HW 3, Ex.
2,7,9
Ex. 22 – Normal Skin
Ex. 8
Biota
Ex. 15 –
Antiseptics/Disinfectants
Ex. 12 Results
Ex. 14 – Antibotics
HW 4, Ex. 12
Ex. 22 – Part 2
Ex. 15 Results
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Week 6
Thursday, 10/23
Gene Transfer
Ch. 8
Tuesday, 10/28
Microbial
Control Ch. 5
Thursday, 10/30
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Tuesday, 11/4
Antimicrobial
Drugs Ch. 20
Thursday, 11/6
Advanced
Molecular
Biology
techniques
Veterans Day
Innate Immune
Response Ch.
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Tuesday, 11/11
Thursday, 11/13
Tuesday, 11/18
Adaptive
Immune
Response
Ch. 15
Thursday, 11/20
Week 10
Tuesday, 11/25
Week 11
Thursday, 11/27
Tuesday, 12/2
Thursday, 12/4
Week 12
Tuesday, 12/9
Host/Microbe
Interaction Ch.
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Thanksgiving
Oncology
Final Exam
Review
Ex. 17 – Transformation
Ex. 22 – Part 3
Ex. 14 Results
Ex. 17 – Part 2
Ex. 22 Results
Ex. 24 – Gram Negative
Rods
Ex. 17 Results
Ex. 23 – Respiratory
Organisms
Ex. 24 Results
Ex. 15
Ex. 29 – Water Lab
Ex. 23 – Part 2
Ex. 24
Ex. 29 – Part 2
Ex. 25 – Unknowns part
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Ex. 23 Results
Ex. 29 – Part 3
Ex. 25 – Part 2
HW 6,
Optional
Assignment
Due
Ex. 23
Ex. 25 – Part 3
Ex. 29 Results
Ex. 25 – Part 4
Epidemiology Lab
Exam 3
Epidemiology Lab
Results
Review for lab practical
HW 8, Ex. 25,
29,
Ex. 14
Exam 2
HW 5, Ex
22,17
HW 7
Lab Practical
Epidemiology
Lab Results
Final Exam
EXAMS: The exams will consist of multiple choice and short answer questions and will cover
topics discussed in lecture and the textbooks. The homework assignments are, in part,
designed to help you get a feel for the types of questions I’ll be asking. Please write neatly – if I
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can’t read your response, it’s wrong. Make up exams are possible only for medical/family
emergencies and only if arrangements with me are made prior to the exam..
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Scantrons and #2 pencils are required for all exams and will not be provided
The Final Exam: 2/3 is cumulative, 1/3 is on new material
Homework: The homework assignments are “take home.” You may spend as much time on
them as you need and use any resources at your disposal. Homework assignments are due at
the beginning of lecture – no credit for late work since you can turn them in any time before
their due date.
Lab Reports: Lab reports are due the lecture following the completion of the lab exercises as
labeled on the syllabus. These reports will include all of the exercises in the workbook as well
as all data, drawings and questions.
Lab quizzes: There will be 2 unannounced quizzes prior to the lab that will ask questions about
any laboratory experiment performed to date. It is in your best interest to pay special attention
to the pre-lab questions.
Laboratory Practical Exam: The laboratory practical exam is a comprehensive exam based on
experiments done in class. Anything done in the lab may show up on the exam. You may not use
your notes or lab manual for the exam. It is a “practical” style exam which may include such things
as identification of specimens under the microscope, identification of specific biochemical tests,
recognition of bacteria on different types of agar medium.
Attendance: Your attendance is expected and you are responsible for material covered, even if
you are not present. There are no make-ups for laboratory sessions. Heavy work schedules,
missing the bus or similar excuses do not count as emergencies. Please be on time for class and
silence cell phones.
Cheating: Don’t cheat. This includes plagiarism. Plagiarism is using anyone else’s words or
work as your own. You must site the resources you use. Cheating will result in, at a minimum,
no credit for the entire project; but far worse consequences are possible. Plagiarism carries
major consequences in the scientific community.
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Examples of plagiarism include (but are not limited to): copying/pasting from resources
you did not write, copying each other (especially in group activities), using online
resources as your own words, making up resources to site or having someone else do
your work for you.
NSC guidelines on plagiarism can be found at
http://libguides.northseattle.edu/c.php?g=97385
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Grading:
Homework (8 assignments)
100 points
Exams (3)
300 points
Final Exam
150 points
Labs (Reports)
170 points
Unkowns Lab
30 points
Lab pop quiz (2)
40 points
Lab Practical Exam
100 points
Optional Assignment (Bonus)
20 points
4.0-3.5
A/A-
90-100%
3.4-2.9
B+/B
80-89.9%
2.8-2.2
B-/C+
70-79.9%
2.1-1.5
C/C+
60-69.9%
1.4-1.0
D+/D
50-59.9%
0.9-0.0
D-/F
Below 50%
Electronic Devices: Out of respect for your instructor and fellow students, please turn off cell
phones and pagers before class. No electronic devices may be used during exams.
Student Services: Students with disabilities who believe that they may need
accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact me as soon as possible to
ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.
Chemical Sensitivities: Due to the increasing numbers of individuals developing chemical
sensitivities and the increasing awareness of such conditions, everyone who attends this class is
asked to refrain from wearing any fragrance or perfume. The greatest feasible efforts will also
be taken to ensure a fresh air environment free of not only the above mentioned fragrances
but also potentially harmful substances such as carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, carpet odor,
organic solvents, etc. Individuals who are unsure of the importance of this policy should see
the Associate Dean for additional information.
Canvas: I may be using Canvas to post lecture material, study guides, and other
worksheets/activities for the course. Once you are registered for the course you will be
able to access the course materials at this website:
https://canvas.northseattle.edu.
To log in to the course site for the first time:
User ID = your full 9 digit Student ID #
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Password = the first six letters of your last name or your entire
last name if it is fewer than six letters and repeat until you reach
six letters
General Course Layout and Logistics: This is a hybrid course, meaning that you will be expected
to participate in both our online and in-person activities throughout the quarter. The website
listed above will take you to the online course content. Note that parts of this website will ask
you for a user name and password. Please notify me immediately if you have problems
accessing any of the course content!
How to succeed in Biology:
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Put in the work. “There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going.” – Beverly Sills.
Keep up in the class – a lot of information comes at you and it’s harder to catch up than
to keep up!
Ask questions. Other students likely have the same questions you do, ask away.
Study smart. Don’t START studying for an exam the night before. Make flash cards, restate principles in your own words, study as a group, take careful notes and write down
any “tricks” I may give you to help remember what’s what. Break up the studying into
smaller sections and try to form the “big picture.”
Use the resources you have available. The text book is great place to start, but also use
Wikipedia (it’s usually accurate) or other online resources. If you need to print out
materials, use the public library. There is a small fee, but you can print out up to 75
black and white or 25 color sheets per week. There are also tutoring services available
(https://northseattle.edu/tutoring)
Take personal responsibility for your own success. There are many opportunities to
excel in this class. The homework assignments are open resource and therefore “Free
Points!” You just have to do the work.
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