General Microbiology
Biology 5180 – Fall 2010
INSTRUCTOR
OFFICE
PHONE
E-MAIL
OFFICE HOURS
Dr. Andrei L. Barkovskii
233 Herty Hall
(478) 445-4246
andrei.barkovskii@gcsu.edu
Tuesday at 1-2 pm or by appointment
CLASS TIMES: 9:30-10:45 AM TR, 252 Herty Hall and 2:00-3:50 PM T (LAB), 209 Herty
Hall.
TEXT: Lectures: Brock Biology of Microorganisms, 12th edition.
Labs: Benson’s Microbiological Applications, 11th (complete) edition.
COURSE CONCEPTS AND OUTCOMES: This course provides students with knowledge of
general microbiology and hands-on experience with microbiological techniques. The latter
includes media preparation, sterilization, and KNOWLEDGEABLE PERFORMANCE OF
EXERCISES. The course also provides an overview of the relationships between
microorganisms and their environment. Students in this course will cover the following topics:
* Principles of microbiology
* Structure and functions of prokaryotic cell
* Evolutionary microbiology and microbial diversity
* Metabolic microbial diversity and principles of microbial ecology
* Microbial physiology
* Microbiological techniques
Exams will be designed in order to accurately assess the student’s understanding of these topics,
the ability to apply general microbiological concepts to them, AND to understand the universal
nature of microbial reactions.
LEARNING EXPECTATIONS: You are responsible for your own learning! This means: at the
beginning of each class you must be prepared for what is going to happen that day. You are the
person responsible for understanding and comprehending the material that we cover. If you are
confused, it is your responsibility to ask questions and seek help.
SPECIAL NOTE CONCERNING CELL PHONES AND PAGERS: Unless you have a
legitimate emergency-type reason why you need to have one of these with you (and you will need
to discuss this with me), you are expected to have them turned OFF during class times.
EXPECTATIONS:
1. Regular class attendance
2. Participation in class
3. Regular attendance and ACTIVE participation in ALL labs.
4. Being inclined to think critically about problems in biology
You are responsible for learning all material presented in lecture as well as any material in your
textbook that we don’t cover IF IT IS IN YOUR REQUIRED READINGS. I will let you know
about any parts of the book for which you are not responsible to learn.*
TENTATVE CHRONOLOGY:
August 17
The first day of the class
August 20
Last Day to Drop A Course without fee penalty
September 14
Exam I
October 6
Midterms, grades due
October 12
Fall break, no classes
October 14
Exam II
November 4
Formal reviews and presentations are due by 9:30 am. Presentations
scheduled.
November 9-23
Presentations
November 24-26
Thanksgiving holiday
November 28
Analysis of the reviews and presentations
December 2
Review and discussion for comprehensive exam.
December 4
Class ends
Thursday, December 9
FINAL (9:00-10:45am)
December 15
Grades due
This is a proposed schedule that could be adjusted anytime due to currently unpredictable
circumstances, be altered due to acts of nature or what the instructor considers to be
sound pedagogical reasons. Adjustments, if any, will be announced in class. Prior to midsemester, you will receive feedback on your academic performance in this course.
EXAMS: Each exam may consist of any combination of multiple choice, matching, true-false, or
short-answer questions, and problems. EACH EXAM WILL INCLUDE QUESTIONS
TOWARD BOTH LECTURE AND LABORATORY TOPICS. While rote learning is
encouraged, your critical thinking will be examined as well. Besides a correct answer, essay
questions require legible and intelligible answers in order to receive full credit. Fifty minutes will
be allotted for a regular exam. The final exam will take one hour and forty five minutes.
Questions from your presentations will be included in the final. There are no make-up exams.
If you miss an exam and have a legitimate** excuse, this particular exam will be dropped. The
second missed exam will give you 0 points that will be counted towards your average grade. The
comprehensive exam must be taken, and if missed will give you 0 points as well. About 40% of
the comprehensive final exam will deal with new material and the other 60% with old material.
LITERATURE REVIEWS: You will be asked to submit one formal report on a
microbiologically relevant topic. Reviews should be prepared using contemporary research
articles (NOT Wikpedia or similar stuff) that could be found in GC&SU library, ordered from
other University of Georgia System libraries, or obtained from Internet (the full text files only).
Each Review should contain no less than 15 references related to the topic. Electronic files of the
articles used should be given to me NO LATER THAN NOVEMBER 4 along with the reviews
and Power Point presentations. The report topics and format will be provided by the Professor.
There will be one grade for both the manuscript and presentation. You will be judged upon (i)
disclosure of given topic, (ii) demonstrated deep knowledge of the topic, (iii) the organization and
flow of your writing, (iv) usage of English grammar and scientific vocabulary, (v) organization
and visual clarity of presentation, (vi) presentation skills, (vii) management of questions, and
(viii) time management. You are a grad student, so I will expect your reviews be more to the
point, better written and presented than of undergrads. You also will be given more
challenging topics.
Evaluation of grad students will involve higher expectations on their comprehensive
performance including (i) essay questions, (ii) literature reviews, and (iii) presentations.
EVALUATION: The standard grading scale is used:
A = 90-100
25% each exam, 75% total
B = 80-89
25% formal literature review on selected topics
C = 70-79
Up to 3 extra points could be added for active
D = 60-69
learning, e.g., participation in discussions,
F = below 60
answering questions, lab hands-on activity, and
creative thinking.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Read the 2002-2004
GC&SU Catalog for the University policy on academic dishonesty. All homework for submission
& grading is to be done by the individual without assistance from another individual, either inside
or outside the class. Similar incorrect answers will be construed as prima-facie evidence of
cheating. I determine what is excessively similar.
DISABILITY: If you have a disability which requires accommodation, please inform me ASAP
and not at test time or the end of semester. If your disability is a learning disability, you must
provide me with a signed letter from Dr. Craig Smith (School of Education) describing your
disability and detailing the accommodation(s) required.
FIRE DRILL PROCEDURE: In the event of fire alarm students will exit the building in a
quick and orderly manner through the nearest hallway exit. Learn the floor plan exits of this
building. Do not use elevators. Crawl on the floor if you encounter heavy smoke. Assist
disabled persons and others if possible without endangering your own life. Assemble for a head
count near the parking lot on Montgomery Street (right across the street).
NOTES:
* A lecture is a brief oral outline and interpretation of the subject. The allotted hours of lecture
do not allow enough time to cover the subject in full details. Much of what you learn, and will be
tested on, will come from the book. There may be a few specific sections of the book that you
will not be required to know for the exams and I will let you know what they are. Otherwise, if
the material is in the assigned chapters, you can assume that it may be tested even if it was not
specifically discussed in lecture.
** The legitimate excuse is an excuse supported with a document given by a medical doctor, a
county, state and federal legislature, or other equally lawful authorities.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Read the
current GC&SU Catalog for the University policy on academic dishonesty. All
homework for submission & grading is to be done by the individual without assistance
from another individual, either inside or outside the class. Similar incorrect answers will
be construed as prima-facie evidence of cheating. I determine what is excessively similar.
DISABILITY: If you have a disability as described by the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504, you may be eligible to
receive accommodations to assist in programmatic and physical accessibility.
Disability Services of the GCSU Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity can assist
you in formulating a reasonable accommodation plan and in providing support in
developing appropriate accommodations needed to ensure equal access to all GCSU
programs and facilities. Course requirements will not be waived but accommodations
may assist you in meeting the requirements.
For documentation requirements and for additional information, we recommend that you
contact Disability Services located in Maxwell Student Union at 478-445-5931 or 478445-4233.
FIRE DRILL PROCEDURE: In the event of fire alarm students will exit the building
in a quick and orderly manner through the nearest hallway exit. Learn the floor plan exits
of this building. Do not use elevators. Crawl on the floor if you encounter heavy smoke.
Assist disabled persons and others if possible without endangering your own life.
Assemble for a head count on the front lawn.
NOTES: * The legitimate excuse is an excuse supported with a document given by a
medical doctor, a county, state or federal legislature, or other equally lawful authorities.
I READ AND UNDERSTOOD THIS SYLLABUS
SIGNATURE
NAME AND DATE