BB509: Microbiology
Comment
Entry requirements
Academic preconditions
Course introduction
- Give competence to engage in collaborations and structure their own learning
- Give skills to conduct experimental investigations, critically reflect on and formulate biological questions, evaluate and solve biological problems.
- Give knowledge and reflective understanding of biology scientific theory, the experimental methods and safety of these, about current research topics and on their use in the discussion of biological problems
Expected learning outcome
- Discuss current theories about the origin of life, microbial evolution and systematics
- Describe the structure of a prokaryotic cell and list the structural and functional differences between Bacteria and Archaea
- Apply
and explain standard methods for enumeration, isolation, identification
and cultivation of prokaryotes and report the results in a
scientifically acceptable form - Make simple calculations of
microbial growth kinetics in batch and continuous culture and describe
how microbial growth can be controlled - Describe the different modes of energy metabolisms used by microbes
- Describe beneficial and harmful interactions between microbes and eukaryotes (e.g. humans)
- Discuss the role of microbes in natural ecosystems with emphasis on biodegradation of organic material and biogeochemical cycles
Content
- History of microbiology
- Microbial diversity and evolution
- Structure of the bacterial cell
- Bacterial metabolism
- Bacterial genetics and genomics
- Microbial growth kinetics in batch and continuous culture
- Physical and chemical limits to microbial growth
- Interactions between microbes and humans, including infectious disease
- The role of microbes in biogeochemical cycles
- Laboratory methods for the investigation of microbes
Literature
Brock, Biology of Microorganisms, Global Edition
See Itslearning for Syllabus lists and further literature references.
Examination regulations
Prerequisites for participating in the exam a)
Timing
Tests
Passing initial tests and participation in all laboratory exercises and excursions.
EKA
Assessment
Grading
Identification
Language
Examination aids
ECTS value
Additional information
The prerequisite examination is a prerequisite for participation in exam element a)
Exam element a)
Timing
Prerequisites
| Type | Prerequisite name | Prerequisite course |
|---|---|---|
| Examination part | Prerequisites for participating in the exam a) | N100038101, BB509: Microbiology |
Tests
Approval of laboratory report
EKA
Assessment
Grading
Identification
Language
Examination aids
ECTS value
Exam element b)
Timing
Tests
Continuous evaluation
EKA
Assessment
Grading
Identification
Language
Examination aids
ECTS value
Additional information
Continuous evaluation throughout the course in the form of small quizzes on e-learn and 3-hour written examination with limited aids permitted (only 10 pages of own notes).
The examination form for re-examination may be either written og oral.
Indicative number of lessons
Teaching Method
In science, the teaching is organized according to the three-phase model, ie. intro, the training and study phase.
These teaching activities result in an estimated indicative distribution of the work effort of an average student in the following way:
- Intro phase (lecture, holding hours) - Number of hours: 20
- Training phase: Number of hours: 26
- Study phase: Number of hours: 7
The introduction to the topics will be performed with lectures that are encouraging active student participation. Intention of the seminars is to link theory and the practicals by preparing the students for the laboratory exercises as well as analyze results from them.
The compilation of a Wiki will be used to reduce learning by heart for a conceptual understanding of the topics and will be part of the things the students are allowed to use during the exam.
Commencement of the laboratory exercises will be with an excursion where samples will be collected that later will be continued working with in the practicals. This will demonstrate how microbiological processes can be applied and help showing the relevance of the methods and topics taught. In order to provide the students with an overview, reports will be written that include both the theory and the results and analyses of the laboratory exercises.
Activities in the study phase:
- recapture topics from the lectures, seminars
- write a report
- compile a Wiki
- complete two cases in a laboratory simulation program