Undergraduate Course Synopsis:
General Microbiology course synopsis
11:680:390; 4 credits. Two 1 hour 20 min lectures plus a mandatory 3 hour laboratory per week. The
course is team taught by faculty of the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, SEBS.
Offered: This lecture plus laboratory course is offered each Fall, Spring, and Summer.
Prerequisites and Registration Restrictions:
Pre-requisites: 01:119: 101-102 General Biology; 01:160:161-162 General Chemistry (4, 4) and
11:160:209 or 11:160:307 Organic Chemistry.
Non-Rutgers courses offered as alternate prerequisites are individually assessed and approved
depending on content.
Description: This course covers basic principles of microbiology and provides an introduction to the
diversity, physiology, morphology, genetics, ecology, applications and pathogenicity of microbes.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Upon completion of the course students will
 Understand the structural similarities and differences among microorganisms and the unique
structure/function relationships of prokaryotic cells.
 Know the fundamentals of microbial gene expression and regulation.
 Appreciate the diversity of microorganism and microbial and communities and recognize how
microorganism solve the fundamental problems their environments present.
 Understand how microorganisms cause disease (and be able to explain why one strain is
pathogenic and another is not.)
In the laboratory students will
 Learn the proper use of a phase contrast microscope to observe microorganisms and report
observed characteristics.
 Master aseptic technique and be able to perform routine culture handling tasks safely and
effectively.
 Develop scientific literacy as a microbiologist.
 Learn to collect, interpret, and present scientific data in microbiology and related fields.
 Apply their knowledge of microbial structure and metabolism to the identification of unknown
microorganisms.
Lecture topics:
Lec
Topic
Chap
Instr
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
22
23
24
24
Introduction
Microbial Cell Structure
Microbial Cell Structure/Function
Introduction to Viruses
Nutrition and Metabolism
Microbial Cell Growth
Principles of Microbial Molecular biology
Regulation of Gene Expression; Bacteria and Archaea
Bacterial Genetics
Bacterial Genetics
Industrial Microbiology
Microbial Evolution, Systematics and Taxonomy
Prokaryotes Bacteria (Pt. 1) Bacteria - Proteobacteria
Prokaryotes (part II continued) and Archaea
Ecology - Introduction
Ecology - Methods
Ecology - Ecosystems
Ecology (Cycling, Symbioses, Bioremediation)
Eukaryotic microbes (Protists/Fungi)
Viral Diversity
Microbial Growth Control
Microbial Interactions with Humans
Epidemiology
1, 2
2
3
9
4
5
6(7)
8
10
11/12
15/26
16
17/18
18/19
22-25
22-25
22-25
22-25
20
21
26
27
32
DD
DD
DD
DD
CV
CV
CV
CV
CV
CV
CV
TB
TB
TB
TB
TB
TB
TB
DD
DD
DD
DD
DD
26
27
28
Person to Person Microbial Diseases/Vectorborne &
Soilborne Pathogens
Wastewater
Treatment, Water Purification & Waterborne
Microbial
Diseases & Foodborne Microbial Diseases
Food Preservation
33/34
35
36
DD
DD
DD
Course Coordinator: Professor Diane Davis (DD), 848 932-5635 davis@aesop.rutgers.edu
Professor Costa Vetriani (CV), 848.932.3379 vetriani@aesop.rutgers.edu
Professor Tamar Barkay (TB), 848.932.5664 barkay@aesop.rutgers.edu
Lab Coordinator: Professor Ines Rauschenbach, 848.932.5418; inesrau@aesop.rutgers.edu
Assistant: Kathy Maguire, 848.932.5642 maguire@aesop.rutgers.edu
Course Text: Brock’s Biology of Microorganisms. 2012. Madigan, M., J.M. Martinko, D.A. Stahl and D.P.
Clark. 13th edition. [Benjamin Cummings, Boston, MA).
Laboratory: Students will master the basic laboratory skills and techniques necessary to work efficiently
and safely in a microbiology laboratory including the concept and use of “aseptic technique”,
fundamental to practical microbiology. Students will strengthen written and oral communication skills.
The laboratory exercises have been developed to stress the following areas critical for today’s
microbiologist: microscopy, culture handling and maintenance, microbial biochemistry and physiology
and molecular biology.
Rutgers Laboratory Manual: 680:390 Laboratory Exercises is published through the Department of
Biochemistry and Microbiology (2013). Purchase information is available to registered students through
SAKAI. Additional laboratory Information: Contact Dr. Ines Rauschenbach via email:
inesrau@aesop.rutgers.edu.
Examinations: Student grades are based on three examinations (75%) and laboratory performance and
assignments (25%). The theory examinations have a multiple choice plus short written answer format.
The laboratory grading is based on reports and quizzes throughout the semester in combination with a
practical laboratory examination.
Other Requirements: The laboratory section of the course in an integral component. Successful
completion of the lab is required to pass General Microbiology.
Syllabus: A detailed syllabus will be available at the first class meeting and posted on the course Sakai
site.
Additional Information: Contact Dr. Diane Davis; davis@aesop.rutgers.edu