National Centre for Marine Conservation
and Resource Sustainability
KQA207
General Microbiology
Semester 1 / 2008
Unit Outline
Dr Chris Burke
© The University of Tasmania 2004
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B
Contact details
Unit coordinator/lecturer
Unit coordinator/lecturer:
Chris Burke
Campus:
Launceston
e-mail:
C.Burke@utas.edu.au
Website:
MyLO
Phone:
63243806
Fax:
63243804
Room number
NH.S255
Consultation hours:
Business hours unless otherwise noted
Contents
Contact details ................................................................................................................ 2
Unit description..................................................................................................... 4
Learning outcomes .............................................................................................. 4
Generic graduate attributes .......................................................................... 4
Prior knowledge &/or skills ............................................................................ 5
Learning resources required ......................................................................... 5
Occupational health and safety (OH&S) .............................................. 5
Further information and assistance ........................................................ 6
Details of teaching arrangements............................................................. 6
Learning expectations and strategies ..................................................... 6
Unit schedule .......................................................................................................... 8
Specific attendance/performance requirements................................ 9
Assessment schedule ............................................................................................. 9
Assessment details ................................................................................................. 9
How your final result is determined ....................................................... 11
Submission of assignments............................................................................ 11
Requests for extensions .................................................................................... 12
Penalties ................................................................................................................... 12
Review of results and appeals ...................................................................... 12
Academic referencing...................................................................................... 12
Plagiarism .............................................................................................................. 13
2
Withdrawing from a unit ................................................................................. 13
3
Unit description
KQA207 General Microbiology
Offered: Launceston semester 1
General Microbiology is an introductory unit that gives students an overview of microbes, in
particular bacteria, as well as specific skills in handling and using microbial cultures. The
philosophy of learning in this unit is one of directed student learning, so that a good
understanding is obtained of the concepts presented. Students are expected to be actively
involved in their learning, which will enhance not only their knowledge and understanding
of microbiology, but also impart learning skills useful for future study. Practical classes take
the form of a directed research project closely integrated with the theory course. In it
students will practise the scientific method of: aim or hypothesis setting followed by
experimental testing and evaluation. Students are encouraged to ask questions in lectures and
tutorials and to suggest alternative topics for discussion in tutorials.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students should be capable of:
1) designing experiments to carry out and evaluate basic bacteriological techniques to
identify and study the characteristics of an unknown culture.
2) demonstrating responsible and careful techniques in the handling of microorganisms;
3) accurately and precisely observing, recording and interpreting bacterial growth;
4) researching microbiological resources to:
a) describe a broad overview of bacterial systematics;
b) demonstrate understanding of the basic forms of catabolism performed by bacteria;
c) demonstrate understanding of selected examples of microbial and viral pathogenicity
in fish;
d) discuss the importance of topical microbiological issues.
Generic graduate attributes
The University has defined a set of generic graduate attributes (GGAs) that can be expected
of all graduates (see http://www.utas.edu.au/tl/policies/index.htm). Whilst undertaking this
unit, students will progress in their development of the following attributes:
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Knowledge: through developing a basic understanding of microbiology by collating and
gathering relevant information from a variety of sources. This will be assessed by 3
project scientific reports and by students’ capacities to integrate and evaluate
microbiological information from the scientific literature and from their own studies
in a taxonomic description and in the final exam.
Communication skills: by beginning to appreciate how to work successfully in a small
group to achieve a common aim. This will be assessed by the results of individual
project reports and the content of the group laboratory diary. Written
communication will be further assessed by essays in the final exam.
Problem-solving skills: by developing understanding of how to carry out scientific research
(planning, execution and evaluation) and by learning basic practical techniques so
that bacterial cultures can be studied. Also, through application of theoretical
knowledge to interpretation of common issues affecting daily human life. This will be
assessed through the project reports, the midsemester tests and in the final exam.
Global perspective: by appreciating that microbes affect all aspects of life on Earth and
starting to develop an understanding of how they do so.
Social responsibility: through developing an appreciation of ethical work and research
methods and applying these within the group project. By following, in all aspects of
work, the university’s code of practice in relation to plagiarism.
Prior knowledge &/or skills
There are no set pre-requisites for this unit. Students are expected to be committed to
actively involving themselves in learning the unit subject matter: both in terms of the
scientific method and in the specialist knowledge of microbiology.
Learning resources required
Requisite texts
Madigan, M.T. and Martinko, J.M., 2006. Brock: Biology of Microorganisms, 11th edition,
Prentice-Hall, New Jersey.
Microbiology Methods Manual, 2008.
Study notes for General Microbiology 2008.
Recommended reading
In the laboratory or library:
Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology, 2nd edition, vol. 1, 2. Springer. LtnRes
579.3012 B496 2001
Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology, 1st edition, vols 1 – 4. Williams and Wilkins.
Bergey’s Manual of Determinative Bacteriology, 1st edition. Williams and Wilkins.
Buller, N.B., 2004. Bacteria from fish and other aquatic animals: a practical identification
manual. CABI publishers, 341 pp. 579.3176 B936b 2004
Cowan and Steel’s Manual for the identification of medical bacteria, 2nd ed. Cambridge
University Press.
Encyclopedia of Microbiology vols 1 - 4. J. Lederberg (ed.) Academic Press. Ref.579.03 E56
2000.
Fin Fish Diseases. Jan. 1990 Proceedings vol. 128, Postgraduate Committee in Veterinary
Science, Sydney University 1990.
Fin Fish Workshop Jan. 1992 Proceedings vol. 182, Postgraduate Committee in Veterinary
Science, Sydney University 1992.
These volumes are also available in the library.
Electronic resources
There is a website for this unit via MyLO.
Occupational health and safety (OH&S)
The University is committed to providing a safe and secure teaching and learning
environment. All students are provided with a School of Aquaculture Handbook in which
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laboratory rules and safe operating procedures are described. Additionally, there are specific
requirements of this unit and these will be described in the first practical period. For a general
overview you should refer to the University’s policy at:
http://www.admin.utas.edu.au/hr/ohs/pol_proc/ohs.pdf
Further information and assistance
If you are experiencing difficulties with your studies or assignments, have personal or life
planning issues, disability or illness which may affect your course of study, you are advised to
raise these with your lecturer in the first instance.
There is a range of University-wide support services available to you including Teaching &
Learning, Student Services, International Services.
Please refer to the Current Students homepage at: http://www.utas.edu.au/students/
Should you require assistance in accessing the Library visit their website for more
information at http://www.utas.edu.au/library/
Details of teaching arrangements
Lecture
Tutorials
Practicals
Monday 11 – 12 & 3 - 4 NH.S141.LT 7
Wednesday 9 – 11, NH.S150 {not every week, see schedule}
Friday 10 – 1, M102 {not every week, see schedule}
Learning expectations and strategies
Learning Expectations
The University is committed to high standards of professional conduct in all activities,
and holds its commitment and responsibilities to its students as being of paramount
importance. Likewise, it holds expectations about the responsibilities students have as
they pursue their studies within the special environment the University offers.
The University’s Code of Conduct for Teaching and Learning states:
Students are expected to participate actively and positively in the teaching/learning
environment. They must attend classes when and as required, strive to maintain
steady progress within the subject or unit framework, comply with workload
expectations, and submit required work on time.
Learning strategies
In this unit a significant proportion of learning will be achieved via collaboration of
students working together in small groups in the laboratory project and in tutorials.
Students will be taught how to work in groups in order to practise the scientific
method by designing and carrying out a research project that is closely linked to the
theoretical component of the unit. Students will work collaboratively to develop their
theoretical knowledge of bacteria
Information for Accessing MyLO
Go to the UTas website and look at:
www.utas.edu.au/coursesonline/
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This site is the general help and advice area to guide you in the use of MyLO, which
is used to support many units taught at UTas.
If you use a modem at home to connect to the internet or do not have an internet
connection at home, then I suggest that you buy a memory stick and download files
from library computers or from computers in the AMC general computing
laboratories.
Lectures in LT7 will be recorded and made available in Lectopia in MyLO. See the
web address below for general information about Lectopia.
http://www.utas.edu.au/itr/lectopia/documents/StudentLectopiaSupport-v1.0.pdf
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Unit schedule
Week
starting
Lecture Topic / activity
Number
25/02
Lectures
3/03
Tutorial
Lectures
10/03
Tutorial
Lectures
Introduction to Course
Introduction to microbiology
Introduction to project
E. coli and S. aureus – the lab rats.
Researching bacterial cell structure
Project planning, essay planning
Public holiday
Tutorial
Researching bacterial cell structure
Lectures
Researching bacterial cell structure
Bacterial growth & death
Project planning: sub-project 2
Researching control of microbial growth
17/03
Tutorial
Laboratory
24/03
No classes from 20/03/08 to 26/03/08 inclusive.
31/03
Lectures
Tutorial
7/04
Lectures
Tutorial
14/04
Lectures
21/04
Tutorial
Lectures
28/04
Tutorial
Lectures
5/05
Tutorial
Lectures
12/05
Tutorial
Lectures
19/05
Tutorial
Lectures
26/05
Tutorial
Lectures
Tutorial
Researching control of microbial growth
An overview of microbial metabolism
Project planning.
Researching microbial metabolism.
Bacterial taxonomy
Researching bacterial diversity
Researching bacterial diversity.
Sub-project 2.
Researching bacterial diversity
Project planning & evaluation
Midsemester test
Researching bacterial diversity
Researching bacterial diversity
Researching bacterial diversity
Project evaluation. Review of test
Viruses
Microbial pathogenesis
None
Overview of microbial diseases of fish
Viral and other fish diseases
None
Bacterial diseases of fish
Bacterial genetics – how bacteria change.
None
Researching genetic recombination
Tying it all together
Revision
1. No laboratory class
2. Laboratory procedures. Subproject 1: Survey of microbes.
3. Sub-project 1: Survey of
microbes.
Midsemester break over
the Easter weekend.
4. Sub-project 1: Survey of
microbes.
5. Sub-project 2: Bacterial
taxonomy of purified cultures
from sub-project 1.
6. Sub-project 2: Bacterial
taxonomy of purified cultures
from sub-project 1
7. Sub-project 2: Bacterial
taxonomy of purified cultures
from sub-project 1.
8. Sub-project 2: Bacterial
taxonomy of purified cultures
from sub-project 1.
9. Sub-project 2: Taxonomy.
Sub-project 3: Environmental
effects on microbial survival.
10. Sub-project 3: Environmental effects on microbial
survival.
11. Sub-project 3: Environmental effects on microbial
survival.
12. No laboratory class.
13. No laboratory class.
NB: Detailed references for preparatory reading are given in the study guide.
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Specific attendance/performance requirements
Attendance at practical sessions is compulsory and absences must be explained to the
lecturer, for example by providing a medical certificate if ill. Absence for more than 2 weeks
may render a student ineligible to sit the final exam, resulting in a fail. Late assignments will
incur a penalty of 10% of the total possible mark per day late.
Assessment schedule
Assessment task
Date due
Assignment 1: Sub-project 1 report
Assignment 2: Taxonomic description
Assignment 3: Sub-project 2 report
Assignment 4: Mid-semester test
Assignment 5: Completed practical schedule
Assignment 6: Group laboratory diary
Assignment 7: Sub-project 3 report
Assignment 8: Online revision test
End of semester exam
4/04/08 prac class
9/04/08 12 noon
2/05/08 prac class
23/04/08 tutorial
16/05/08 prac class
16/05/08 prac class
21/05/08 tutorial
21/06/08 12 am
Percent
weighting
4
10
8
10
5
5
8
5
45
Assessment details
Assessment task 1: Sub-project 1: survey of microbes in the environment
Task description
Task length
Links to unit’s learning
outcomes
Assessment criteria /
guidelines
Date due
Scientific report evaluating methods and findings of sub-project 1.
Report introduction, hypothesis, methods used, data obtained and a
discussion addressing questions raised in project description (see
Microbiology Laboratory Guide). Report should be typed.
No more than 1000 words in total. Aim to be concise.
Learning outcomes 1, 2 and 3
Correct format of scientific report (see Student handbook).
Experiments address hypothesis and discussion evaluates data
appropriately. Consideration given to questions raised in Lab.
Guide.
4/04/08 during practical class
Assessment task 2: Taxonomic description
Task description
Task length
Links to unit’s learning
outcomes
Assessment criteria /
guidelines
Date due
Research information about a species of microbe (see KQA207
lecture notes for a list of possible taxa) and write an essay
describing the organism: its cellular and metabolic features,
distinguishing characteristics and anything that you consider to be
of interest about it. Use the textbook and other library sources as
required. I have additional papers available.
1500 words
Learning outcome 3 and 4a, b, c.
The issues listed in the Lecture notes booklet under Taxonomic
description are addressed. Correct formatting for an essay and
correct attribution of published work.
9/04/08 12 noon.
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Assessment task 3: Scientific report on sub-project 2
Task description
Task length
Links to unit’s learning
outcomes
Assessment
criteria
/
guidelines
Date due
Scientific report evaluating methods and findings of sub-project 2.
Report introduction, hypothesis, methods used, data obtained and a
discussion addressing questions raised in project description (see
Microbiology Laboratory Guide). Report should be typed.
No more than 1000 words in total. Aim to be concise.
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3 and 4a.
Correct format of scientific report (see Student handbook).
Experiments address hypothesis and discussion evaluates data
appropriately. Consideration given to questions raised in Lab.
Guide.
2/05/08 during practical class
Assessment tasks 4: Midsemester test
Task description
Task length
Links to unit’s learning
outcomes
Assessment criteria /
guidelines
Date due
Answer questions on the theoretical and practical concepts
presented in the course. This test is to inform students of their
understanding of the subject and to identify misconceptions so that
these may be corrected.
1 hour
Learning outcomes 4a, b and c
Correct answers to multiple choice questions
23/04/08 during tutorial
Assessment task 5: Completed practical schedule
Task description
Task length
Links to unit’s learning
outcomes
Assessment criteria /
guidelines
Date due
Throughout the semester students are to have their practical work
checked by the demonstrator, who will sign off and date the work
once the student is competent at that technique. A list of techniques
to be learnt is given in the Microbiology Laboratory Guide
During laboratory classes
Learning outcome 1, 2 and 3.
Refer to practical schedule in Microbiology Laboratory Guide and
to the Microbiology Methods Manual
16/05/08 during the practical class
Assessment task 6: Group project work diary
Task description
Task length
Links to learning
outcomes
Assessment criteria /
guidelines
Date due
Through out the semester, work collaboratively with 2 other students to
plan, execute and evaluate a project to isolate a particular organism from
an environmental source and to characterise some properties of your
organism. Use a laboratory diary to organise and report your work. Each
student will in turn be responsible for managing the group’s activities for
a particular sub-project. Written formative feedback will be given at least
twice throughout the semester.
Average of 3 hours per week for weeks 2 to 10 inclusive.
Learning outcomes 1, 2 and 3
A detailed work diary model and a proforma for expected content are
provided in the Microbiology Methods Manual. In essence, the work
diary will be evaluated against the criterion that a microbiologist
unfamiliar with the project could read the diary and understand what had
been done, why it was done and the logic of the conclusions drawn from
the data.
16/05/08 at the conclusion of the Practical class.
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Assessment task 7: Scientific report on sub-project 3
Scientific report evaluating methods and findings of sub-project 2.
Report introduction, hypothesis, methods used, data obtained and a
discussion addressing questions raised in project description (see
Microbiology Laboratory Guide). Report should be typed.
No more than 1000 words in total. Aim to be concise.
Learning outcomes 1, 2 and 3
Task description
Task length
Links to unit’s learning
outcomes
Assessment criteria /
guidelines
Correct format of scientific report (see Student handbook).
Experiments address hypothesis and discussion evaluates data
appropriately. Consideration given to questions raised in Lab.
Guide.
21/05/08 during tutorial
Date due
Assessment task 8: Online revision test of cell structure
Log on through MyLO and complete the online revision test
Task description
number 3. Two attempts are allowed and the higher score recorded.
20 minutes
Task length
Learning outcomes 4a and d
Links to unit’s learning
outcomes
Correct answers to questions.
Assessment criteria /
guidelines
21/06/08 at 12 am
Date due
Final exam
Links to learning
outcomes
Description / conditions
Date
Learning outcomes 1 and 4a, b, c and d.
The final exam will assess students’ ability to think scientifically in the
context of microbiology. Two sections: one hour closed book multiple
choice and 2-h written exam of essays, data analysis and short answer
questions. All theory and practical aspects of the course are examinable.
The final exam is conducted by the University Registrar in the formal
examination period. See the Current Students homepage (>Examinations
and Results) on the University’s website.
How your final result is determined
Continuous assessment
Practical Schedule
Group laboratory diary
Project reports
Taxonomic description
Midsemester test
Online revision test
5%
5%
20%
10%
10%
5%
Exam
Final exam
45%
Successful performance in both the continuous assessment and final examination components
is necessary for a pass in this unit. Irrespective of the aggregate mark, a student who fails to
achieve at least 45% in each of the continuous assessment and the examination components
may be required either to undertake further assessment, or be deemed to have failed the unit.
In the latter case a grade, but no mark will be recorded for the unit.
Submission of assignments
Completed assignments are to be submitted electronically via MyLO – by the due date. Late
assignments submitted electronically will lose 10% of the total mark for each day late. If
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electronic submission fails, then hard copies may be submitted to the lecturer or to the
secretary on the third floor.
Requests for extensions
All requests must be made directly to the lecturer well before the due date. It is expected that
only unforeseeable circumstances, not poor organisation of work schedules, will be accepted
as a reason for an extension.
Penalties
Unless granted an extension, a penalty of 10% of the total possible mark will be incurred for
each day an assignment is late.
Review of results and appeals
In the first instance, the unit coordinator should be approached. If the issue is unresolved, then
it should be referred to the Head of the School of Aquaculture. If this does not satisfactorily
resolve the problem, then the appeal should be taken to the Faculty of Science Engineering
and Technology.
Academic referencing
In your written work you will need to support your ideas by referring to scholarly literature,
works of art and/or inventions. It is important that you understand how to correctly refer to
the work of others so that you maintain your academic integrity. The School of Aquaculture
student handbook contains advice on how to avoid plagiarism. Failure to appropriately
acknowledge the ideas of others constitutes academic dishonesty (plagiarism), a matter
considered by the University of Tasmania as a serious offence. The appropriate referencing
style for this unit is based on the journal Aquaculture.
A detailed description of the required style can be downloaded from the school’s website at:
http://www.scieng.utas.edu.au/aqua/index.asp
For general information on presentation of assignments, including referencing styles:
http://www.utas.edu.au/library/assist/gpoa/gpoa.html
Please read the following statement by the University on plagiarism. Should you require
clarification please see your unit coordinator or lecturer. A tutorial session will be used to
guide students on how to avoid plagiarism.
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Plagiarism
Plagiarism is a form of cheating. It is taking and using someone else's thoughts, writings or inventions
and representing them as your own; for example, using an author's words without putting them in
quotation marks and citing the source, using an author's ideas without proper acknowledgment and
citation, copying another student's work.
If you have any doubts about how to refer to the work of others in your assignments, please consult
your lecturer or tutor for relevant referencing guidelines, and the academic integrity resources on the
web at http://www.utas.edu.au/tl/supporting/academicintegrity/index.html.
The intentional copying of someone else’s work as one’s own is a serious offence punishable by
penalties that may range from a fine or deduction/cancellation of marks and, in the most serious of
cases, to exclusion from a unit, a course or the University. Details of penalties that can be imposed are
available in the Ordinance of Student Discipline – Part 3 Academic Misconduct, see
http://www.utas.edu.au/universitycouncil/legislation/
The University reserves the right to submit assignments to plagiarism detection software,
and might then retain a copy of the assignment on its database for the purpose of future
plagiarism checking.
For further information on this statement and general referencing guidelines, see
http://www.utas.edu.au/plagiarism/ or follow the link under ‘Policy, Procedures and
Feedback’ on the Current Students homepage.
Withdrawing from a unit
If you wish to withdraw from a unit, please be aware of the implications of withdrawing after
the census date.
Semester 1
From date
End date
1 January
2008
21 March
2008
15 April
2008
7 June
2008
20 March
2008
14 April
2008
6 June
2008
Withdrawal
code
W0
WW
Enrolment status
Withdrawn
Academic
penalty
NO
Financial
liability
NO
NO
YES
WN
Withdrawn without
penalty
Withdrawn deemed failed
YES
YES
AN
Absent deemed failed
YES
YES
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