91314 General Microbiology
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Subject handbook information prior to 2024 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
Requisite(s): 91161 Cell Biology and Genetics
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses. See access conditions.
Description
Microbes are small but they have important relationships with the human world and environment. Although some are involved in food spoilage and a minority are capable of causing disease in humans, animals and plants, many have numerous beneficial effects including maintaining health in our guts and maintaining balance in the environment by recycling chemical elements such as carbon and nitrogen. Additionally, microbes have a number of important industrial and biotechnological applications in food and chemical production, bioremediation and sewage treatment. When considering their diverse roles, microbes are an exciting and important group of organisms to learn about.
This subject provides an introduction to the structure, function and taxonomy of microorganisms, including bacteria, archaea, protozoa, fungi, and viruses. Several key topics in the study of microbiology are discussed including microscopy, sterilisation, disinfection, microbial nutrition, growth and diversity, bacterial identification schemes, as well as antibiotic and anti-microbial agents and contemporary techniques in molecular microbiology. Basic mycology, parasitology, and virology are covered, with an emphasis on transmission control of these organisms. The practical components give students experience in the principal laboratory procedures for the isolation, growth, control and identification of microorganisms, including aseptic techniques that are used extensively in a great variety of scientific applications.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | describe the major taxonomic and phenotypic classifications of microorganisms and how disease, environmental and industrial processes relate to known groups of microorganisms |
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| 2. | describe how microorganisms and their components relate to growth, disease, and survival in natural environments and in the laboratory |
| 3. | describe the nutritional and physical factors affecting microbial growth and apply these to identify appropriate methods to culture and control microorganisms |
| 4. | apply techniques to visualise, culture, identify and investigate microorganisms in the laboratory |
| 5. | evaluate the microbiology research literature and apply written communication skills to create a popular science magazine-style article focusing on a recent research discovery or development in microbiology |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of following course intended learning outcomes:
- Demonstrate theoretical and technical knowledge of broad science concepts and explain specialised disciplinary knowledge. (1.1)
- Evaluate scientific evidence and apply effective experimental design and/or mathematical reasoning, analysis, and critical thinking to apply science and/or mathematic methodologies to real world problems. (2.1)
- Work autonomously or in teams to address workplace or community problems utilising best scientific practice, with consideration to safety requirements and ethical guidelines. (3.1)
- Design creative solutions to contemporary or complex scientific issues by incorporating innovative methods, reflective practices, and self-directed learning. (4.1)
- Present and communicate complex ideas and justifications using appropriate communication approaches from a variety of methods (oral, written, visual) to communicate with discipline experts, scientists, industry, and the general public. (5.1)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
The Faculty of Science has determined that UTS courses allow you to develop the following attributes by the completion of your course of study. Each subject will contribute to the development of these attributes in ways appropriate to the subject and the stage of progression, thus not all attributes are necessarily addressed in all subjects.
1.0. Disciplinary knowledge
a) You will develop an in-depth understanding of the microbial world as described in the subject description. You will learn to apply this knowledge in making decisions about microbial-related problems such as selecting the appropriate method for sterilisation and disinfection in the interactive Zoom Q&A sessions. These concepts are assessed in the final exam (assessment 3).
2.0. Research, Inquiry and Critical Thinking
a) In the final exam (assessment 3), you will develop an inquiry-oriented approach through questions that require you to apply your knowledge in microbiology for solving problems relevant to the discipline.
b) In the practical classes, you will develop microbiology-specific practical competencies such as the ability to determine the growth rate of a microbe from a series of data, enumerate the amount of microbial cells in a solution from a series of data and identify the Gram reaction of two unknown bacteria. Your competencies in these areas will be assessed by your demonstrator or in online modules (assessment 2).
c) During preparation for the magazine-style written article (assessment 1), you will develop skills in critically reading scientific literature and using the information to draw reasoned conclusions and identify gaps in knowledge. For example, you will need to make an argument as to which methods are adequate or best for isolating and detecting a specific microbe.
3.0. Professional, Ethical and Social Responsibility
a) During the practical classes, you will develop laboratory competencies in microbiology (e.g. culturing, setting up a microscope, streaking). Your competencies in these areas will be assessed by your demonstrator or in online modules (assessment 2).
b) To heighten your awareness and understanding of how science underpins society, your written magazine-style article task (assessment 1) asks you to consider the significance and impact of a microorganism or microbiology-related issue to health, industry or the environment. In order for science to drive community behaviour or policy (e.g. improve vaccination rates or inform climate change policy), it is important for scientists to communicate research to the widest possible audience. You will learn how to tell a story and to simplify complex science into a format that is reachable to the general public. Your assignment will be marked on these specific skills and you will be provided with feedback online.
4.0. Reflection, Innovation, Creativity
a) Throughout your career, you will be required to independently gather information through interrogation of a variety of different databases and information sources. Students find that this process fosters their sense of curiosity leading to self-motivation. During preparation of the magazine-style written article (assessment 1), you will develop these skills and feedback will be provided online. You should examine the feedback to reflect and identify your strongest skills and to improve those that are weakest.
5.0. Communication
a) Your capacity to take complex scientific information and communicate it to scientifically-educated people but not scientists will be developed. The magazine-style written article (assessment 1) requires you to accurately follow guidelines to produce the article in a clear and concise manner.
Teaching and learning strategies
You will learn in this subject through a variety of different approaches:
Pre-recorded lectures: Through Canvas, you will be given access to custom made onlines movies that deliver much of the subject theoretical content. Because many of the slides that supplement the movies have minimal text, it is of benefit to take notes. Reference to specific sections of the text book are provided for reading that builds on the lecture content and is also examinable.
Zoom Q&A Sessions: Interactive quiz activities online with your lecturers via Zoom will actively develop an understanding of concepts in the pre-recorded lectures. You are welcome to ask the lecturers questions on the content as these sessions, or at other times through Canvas.
Practical classes: The practical classes are a popular component of this subject. They develop important microbiological laboratory and critical analysis skills, and complement the lectures, reinforcing microbiological concepts. You are expected to read the relevant part of the student practical manual before coming to practical class.
Development of professional and academic scientific writing skills: An aim of this subject is to further develop your written scientific communication by writing a magazine-style article. This assessment will form part of a milestone assessment task that will, in addition to assessing your subject-specific learning objectives, assess your English language proficiency. To develop skills required for this assessment, you will follow detailed guidelines and complete three short (~10-15 min) online interactive tutorials to help you plan the writing of your article. These online interactive tutorials will also help you pitch and structure your article as well as develop important skills in:
- synthesising and integrating the literature in a critical way;
- using appropriate language (e.g. contrast and compare language, reporting verbs, critical and evaluative language); and;
- translating scientific research into a more accessible format for science savvy readers.
Assessments: You will have the opportunity to demonstrate your microbiology understanding and skills through assessments including:
1. The final exam (assessment 3) assesses disciplinary knowledge and application.
2. The writing of a magazine-style research article on a current topic in microbiology (assessment 1), which assesses your communication of scientific information is accurate, effective, concise and uses appropriately referenced sources. Feedback will be provided to you online.
3. Laboratory competencies exam (assessment 2) will assess skills in microbiological techniques and your ability to use those skills.
In AUTUMN, Approximately 9 hours per week over a 12 week period.
In SUMMER, Approximately 7 hours per day over a 3-week period.
Content (topics)
You will learn about the structure and function of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms, their range in size and diversity of structure, how bacteria grow and survive in natural environments and in laboratory media, how to control microbial growth and sterilize surfaces, objects, foods and materials, and how to biochemically identify bacteria to the species level. You will understand the basic biology of bacteria, archaea, fungi, protozoa and prokaryotic and eukaryotic DNA and RNA viruses. You will gain an understanding for various modes of transmission of diverse microbes and control of all forms of microbial infection.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Magazine-style written article
| Intent: | The following graduate attributes are assessed in this task: 2.0 Research, inquiry and critical thinking 4.0 Reflection, innovation and creativity 5.0 Communication |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 5 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1, 2.1, 4.1 and 5.1 |
| Type: | Essay |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Criteria: | Addressing criteria as described in provided rubric. |
Assessment task 2: Laboratory competencies in microbiology
| Intent: | The following graduate attributes are assessed in this task: 2.0 Research, inquiry, and critical thinking 3.0 Professional, ethical, and social responsibility |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1, 2.1 and 3.1 |
| Type: | Laboratory/practical |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Criteria: | Provision of correct answers and demonstration of practical skills in microbiology |
Assessment task 3: Exam
| Intent: | The following graduate attributes are assessed in this task: 1.0 Disciplinary knowledge 2.0 Research, inquiry and critical thinking |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2 and 3 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1 and 2.1 |
| Type: | Quiz/test |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Criteria: | Provision of correct answers |
Minimum requirements
You must obtain an overall mark of 50% or greater to pass the subject. However, additional minimum requirements must be met.
English language proficiency: In this subject you will create a magazine-style article. This assesses your academic English language proficiency, and you may be identified for further language support after the completion of this subject.
Recommended texts
Brock - Biology of Microorganisms. 15th (Global) Edition. Michael Madigan, John Martinko, Kelly Bender, Daniel Buckley, David Stahl. Pearson. Available online or hardcopy via the UTS Library.
Specific sections of the recommended textbook are examinable as provided in each module.
Other resources
Canvas is the primary method your subject co-ordinator will communicate with you. It is expected that you will regularly check Canvas (approximately every 2 days).