BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT
TRENT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE (BIOL 3250H): Microbiology
Fall 2014 – Peterborough Campus
Instructor:
Kirk Hillsley
Campus:
Peterborough
Secretary:
Sandra Sisson
Office Location:
DNA D102
Teaching Assistant: TBA
Email:
Via Blackboard
Office Location:
DNA D213
Telephone:
(705) 748-1011 x6346
Office Hours:
Wed 12-1pm
Email:
ssisson@trentu.ca
Telephone:
705-748-1011 ext 7424
Email:
Course Description:
Biology 3250H provides an introduction to microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses,
protozoa, and fungi. The diversity of characteristics, replication and survival strategies of
these organisms will be discussed. The study of microbiology has contributed to several
revolutions in modern medicine, but the story doesn’t end there. The course will emphasize
not only the pathogenic but also the beneficial effects that these organisms have, both in
biological contexts and for human use.
Blackboard:
This course uses Blackboard which includes important information about the course and
where you will find your grades. All students who are registered in the course will have
BIOL 3250 on their Blackboard site. Class announcements and lab schedules will be posted
here; be sure to check this regularly.
Required Textbook:
Brock Biology of Microorganisms – 14th edition. By M.T. Madigan, and J.M. Martinko.
Published by Pearson.
Please note an earlier edition of this text will also suffice
Course Format:
Type
LECTURE
Day
WED
LAB
THU
Time
10:00 – 11:50am
9:00 – 11:50am OR
1:00 – 3:50pm
Location
CC307
DNA202 OR DNA208
DNA202 OR DNA208
Learning Outcomes:
Students successfully completing this course will:
1. Understand the different organisms which are studied in microbiology
2. Learn different structural and physiological characteristics of microbes
3. Appreciate the important of microbes to human health and disease, and to the
environment
4. Gain knowledge of laboratory methodologies including sterile technique, microscope
microbial growth and measurement, and recording of observations
5. Apply their knowledge through lab report, and exam writing
6. Have good written communication skills
7. Be aware of limits to knowledge through critical thinking and synthesis of lab activities
8. Have developed self-sufficient laboratory skills that are applicable in a professional
setting
Course Evaluation:
Normally at least 25% of the grade in an undergraduate half-credit course offered in the
Fall/Winter academic session must be determined and made available by the final date for
withdrawal. Fall 2014, final date for withdrawal is November 4, 2014. No final
examination is worth more than 50% of the final grade. With the exception of laboratory
examinations in the sciences, no in-class tests or final examinations which are worth more
than 10% of the final grade may be held during the last two weeks of classes in the Fall
term.
1. Laboratory
2. Midterm
3. Final Exam
40%
25%
35%
Lab outlines and grading: The laboratory experience is an important part of this course and
therefore is the basis of a large percentage of the grade. Attendance at labs is mandatory and
lab reports will only be accepted from those students who have attended (attendance will be
recorded). Lab 1 will exclusively be performed during 2 lab periods.
Lab quizzes: Lab quizzes will occur at the beginning of lab to determine whether students
have prepared appropriately for that weeks experiment. Each quiz will consist of 5-10
questions based on the pre-lab reading. Quizzes will be administered using the iClicker
system. Each student must bring an iClicker to each lab in order to participate in the quiz. If
students do not have an iClicker, or miss the quiz at the beginning of class, they will be
assigned a mark of zero for that quiz. Six quizzes will be held (one for each lab), and
students will be able to drop their lowest quiz mark.
Lab 1 Hay Infusion lab with weekly observations throughout the semester - 12%
total grade. Full lab report due Nov 21
2
Lab 2 Sterile Technique and Bacterial staining - 5% total grade. Methods and results
in lab following week (Oct 2)
Lab 3-4 Microorganisms in the Environment 8% total grade. Lab report due Oct 29
Lab 5 Microbial growth and control 5% total grade. Question sheet due in lab
following week (Nov 13)
Lab 6 Forensic Microbiology – due at end of lab 5% total grade
Lab Quizzes 5% total grade
Total = 40%
Midterm Exam: Will consist of multiple choice questions.
Final Exam: Will consist of multiple choice questions and will be focused on the latter half
of the course: however about 25% of the questions will consist of material from before the
midterm.
Schedule of Topics and Readings:
The precise subjects covered within each weeks lecture is subject to change. Any such
changes will be announced on Blackboard
Date
Wed Sep 10
Wed Sep 17
Wed Sep 24
Wed Oct 1
Wed Oct 8
Wed Oct 15
Oct 20-24
Wed Oct 29
Wed Nov 5
Wed Nov 12
Wed Nov 19
Wed Nov 26
Wed Dec 3
Topic
Introduction
Microbial Evolution & Systematics
Microbial Cell Structure & Function
Microbial Growth & Control
Bacteria
Midterm
Reading week
Archaea
Viruses
Eukaryotic Microbes
Microbial Ecosystems
Microbial Interactions with Humans
Bacterial Diseases
Reading
Ch. 1
Ch. 12
Ch. 2
Ch. 3, Ch. 5
Ch. 14, Ch. 15
Ch. 16
Ch. 8, Ch. 9
Ch. 17, Ch. 32
Ch. 19
Ch. 23
Ch. 29, Ch. 30, Ch. 31
Course Policies:
Penalties: Any and all assignments submitted late will NOT be accepted, and a mark of zero
will be given for lab work submitted past the due-date/time. Exceptions may be made for
valid reasons (i.e. serious illness) if acceptable documentation (i.e. a medical doctor’s note)
is provided to the course instructor.
Special Circumstances
If there are cases of exceptional circumstances surrounding a student’s inability to complete
allocated course work, these should be brought to the attention of the instructor, with the
3
appropriate supporting documents, as soon as possible. Extensions arranged after an
assignment is due will not be granted. Each situation with regard to extensions or potential
penalties will be judged on a case-by-case basis.
Contact Preference: General questions should be sent via Blackboard email.
For e-mails received between Monday-Thursday, I will make every effort to respond within
24 hours. For those inquiries received on Fridays, I will reply by the following Monday.
If it is a question or issue that may be answerable by your peers, questions can be posted on
the relevant discussion board to limit the number of duplicated questions. Please be sure to
check the discussion board before posting questions to ensure that your question has not
already been answered.
University Policies
Academic Integrity:
Academic dishonesty, which includes plagiarism and cheating, is an extremely serious
academic offence and carries penalties varying from a 0 grade on an assignment to
expulsion from the University. Definitions, penalties, and procedures for dealing with
plagiarism and cheating are set out in Trent University’s Academic Integrity Policy. You
have a responsibility to educate yourself – unfamiliarity with the policy is not an excuse.
You are strongly encouraged to visit Trent’s Academic Integrity website to learn more:
www.trentu.ca/academicintegrity.
Access to Instruction:
It is Trent University's intent to create an inclusive learning environment. If a
student has a disability and/or health consideration and feels that he/she may need
accommodations to succeed in this course, the student should contact the Student
Accessibility Services Office (SAS), (BH Suite 132, 705-748-1281 or email
accessibilityservices@trentu.ca). Complete text can be found under Access to
Instruction in the Academic Calendar.
Clickers (Personal Response Systems):
As clicker records are used in this course to compute a portion of course grades, the use of a
clicker other than your own is an academic offence. In lecture or tutorial, possession of more
than one clicker, or that of another student, may be interpreted as intent to commit an
academic offense.
4