General Microbiology Laboratory

General Microbiology Laboratory BSM 131L Parkinson Room 227 Section D, R 1:00-2:50 Instructor: Dr. Lauren D. Brandon Office: Parkinson 219 Phone: 329-7378 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www2.muw.edu/~lbrandon Office Hours: MWF 11:00-12:00 and by appt. Schedule using email.

Required Textbook: Benson-Brown. Microbiology. This book can be found only in the MUW book store.

This lab will be graded separately from the lecture—meaning that you will receive a separate grade for each class. This lab is meant to supplement the material that you will be learning in lecture.

Goals and Outcomes: This class will introduce the student to scientific inquiry. This class will also combine mathematical skills with scientific applications (for instance, you will be asked to make serial dilutions). The student should learn how to properly handle microorganisms in the laboratory. You should also become familiar with basic laboratory equipment and safety rules in a biology lab.

Academic Dishonesty Policy—I take this very seriously. If you are found to be cheating, you will receive a ‘0’ for that assignment and may be referred to the Academic Standard Board. The following is the policy on academic dishonesty outlined by your student handbook. Students enrolled at Mississippi University for Women agree to abide by the university’s Honor Code “to uphold the highest standards of honesty in all phases of university life” and, therefore, agree to refrain from any dishonest behavior in academics. Academic Dishonesty includes cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, or other actions that violate commonly accepted intellectual and ethical standards within academic and scientific communities. Any student who is party to academic dishonesty, excluding plagiarism (see the following section for the consequences of plagiarism), whether having given or accepted assistance, shall appear before the Academic Standards Board for appropriate action. This policy applies to work in progress as well as completed work. Policy #3534 sets forth procedures for appeal to the Academic Standards Board. Cheating is taking credit for work which has been done by another person. Examples include, but are not limited to (1) giving or using prohibited written and/or oral information during tests, quizzes, or examinations; (2) stealing, buying, selling or any other use of an examination before it has been administered; (3) copying ideas or facts from another’s paper during a test situation; (4) obtaining or giving specific information which will be on a test before the test is administered; (5) deceitfully altering any assignments or the instructor’s markings; (6) copying computer programs or writing computer programs for another student; (7) substituting for another person during an examination or allowing such substitution for oneself; or (8) stealing, buying, or selling essays, artwork, or other assignments. Academic dishonesty includes any fabrication and falsification of laboratory and clinical experiences, internship records, attendance records, research data, survey results, research methods, research results, research conclusions, documentation of sources, and other information and processes in the collection and presentation of academic, scientific, and professional material.

Attendance Policy: Department policy states that you cannot miss more than 30% of labs. After this point, you will receive an ‘F’ for the course, regardless of your grade at that time and regardless of the validity of your excuses. My advice is to not miss any classes because you will receive a ‘0’ for each quiz that you miss. I do not tolerate talking during lectures. It is disrespectful to your fellow students.

Grading: You will have 10 quizzes, which will be given at the beginning of each lab period, two of which will be a drop-grade. There will be no make-up quizzes, so you should try to attend lab each day. You must be on time for the quizzes, because if you are late, you will receive a ‘0’ for that quiz. There will be a comprehensive final at the end of the semester. There will be no extra credit offered in this class.

8 quizzes x 10 points each = 80 points comprehensive final = 60 points Total of 150 points A: 90-100% of 150 points B: 80-89% of 150 points C: 70-79% of 150 points D: 60-69% of 150 points F: ≤ 59% of 150 points

Students with a disability: It is your responsibility to alert me as to the nature of your disability and the accommodations that you require. MUW students with disabilities who are requesting accommodations should contact the Coordinator of Academic Support Services at 329-7138.

Cell phone policy: Do NOT use cell phones during class time. Turn your cell phones to ‘silent’ or ‘off’ before coming to class (cell phones set to ‘vibrate’ can still cause distractions).

Important Dates: January 15 Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Holiday for Day and Night Classes LAST DAY TO ENTER CLASSES JANUARY 16 LAST DAY TO CHANGE FROM AUDIT TO CREDIT LAST DAY TO CHANGE FROM GRADE TO PASS-FAIL February 7 LAST DAY TO DROP OR WITHDRAW FROM A COURSE WITHOUT RECEIVING A GRADE OF WP OR WF LAST DAY TO CHANGE FROM CREDIT TO AUDIT LAST DAY TO SUBMIT CHANGE OF MAJOR FORM FOR SPRING 2007 February 28 Mid-Term Grades due 9:00 a.m. March 7 Last Day A Class May Be Dropped March 7 Advising Period Summer & Fall 2007 Pre-Scheduling Begins March 9 Last Day to Apply for a Degree to be Awarded May 2007 March Academic Profile Test March 12 - 17 Spring Holidays March 19 Classes Resume at 8:00 a.m. April 6 - 9 Holiday April CAAP Test April 5 LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW FROM THE UNIVERSITY April 28 Exams for Saturday Classes April 30 - May Exams for Day and Evening Classes 3 May 4 Commencement Practice May 5 Commencement Note: All of the following dates and topics are tentative. Week of Topic Pages Jan. 8 Introduction and Safety ix-xiv; handout Jan. 15 Microscopy 1-8 Jan. 22 Quiz 1 37-56; 57-64 Ubiquity of bacteria; fungi Jan. 29 Quiz 2 65-75 Aseptic technique Feb. 5 Quiz 3 77-87; 89-94 Pure culture techniques; smear preparation Feb. 12 Quiz 4 95-101; 103-106 Simple staining; Gram staining Feb. 19 Quiz 5 107-109; 121-131 Endospore staining; culture media preparation Feb. 26 Quiz 6 143-151; 191-200 Standard plate count; Effects of temperature Mar. 5 Quiz 7 209-212; 217-220 Effects of UV light; Alcohol as an antiseptic Mar. 19 Quiz 8 221-226; 227-229 Kirby-Bauer; Filter paper disk method Mar. 26 Quiz 9 237-248; 249-256 Culture characteristics; carbohydrate fermentation Apr. 2 Quiz 10 257-268; 359-364 Starch and urea hydrolysis; Water quality tests Apr. 9 Blood typing 451-453 Apr. 16 Review Apr. 23 Comprehensive Lab Final