General Microbiology

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Official Description[edit]

General Microbiology (04-140)
Prerequisites: Bio 102/103 or 112/113 or 114/115 and Chem 114/115
A study of the morphology, physiology and culturing of microorganisms. Studies on disease-producing organisms, the fundamentals of immunology, various laboratory techniques, and procedures and the applications of microbiology will be included. Two hours of lecture and four hours of laboratory per week.

Overview[edit]

Lecture studies the differences and similarities in microorganisms, as well as their structure, respiration, and functions. In the end of the semester, immunology is touched on. Lab covers cell stains, identification tests, sterile lab procedure, and dilutions.

What really happens[edit]

Lab[edit]

The first day of lab you will be welcomed with the smell of cultured bacteria. You will be told that if you contaminate or potentially contaminate anything, it must be disinfected. That means that objects such as clothes, shoes, backpacks, calculators, pencils, etc. will be thrown in the autoclave. If you get your culture on your skin, you have to hold a paper towel soaked in disinfectant on the spot for twenty minutes. If you spill bacteria on the floor, you have to spray it with a disinfectant and leave it alone for about a half hour. You might hear stories of times where people have had to strip naked to remove all the contaminated clothing. You do not work with anything that is an active pathogen, just a few opportunistic ones.


You do not have lab partners, but you work with the people near you. Pick a spot in lab next to a friend because you will have to sit there the rest of the semester. You will get a key to a drawer where you keep your china marker, matches, and gloves. Make sure you understand how all of the tests work and can correctly identify the difference between round and rod shaped bacteria. When they are really small it is hard to tell. This will be important when you are given two unknown species of bacteria and are required to figure out what they are using only your cunning lab skills and trusty lab manual. If you are unsure of the shape and gram reaction, you will probably be unable to guess what they are. If you take this class in the spring, you will get your unknowns a few weeks before spring break. Get them done quickly because, even though they are due at the end of the semester, the lab will run out of necessary testing materials. Plus, you will be unable to get a copy of Bergey's Manual because of all the people who waited to the last minute to run their tests.

Lecture[edit]

Unless the study of bacteria is really exciting to you, lecture is very boring. Both sections of lab have class at the same time. Dr. Thornsberry uses PowerPoint slides to guide the lecture. It it best if you print these out and take notes on them, or take notes on your computer. While reading the book is helpful, it is not necessary to get an A in the course. Almost all the material for tests comes from the lecture and the practice quizzes on eCompanion.

Tests[edit]

There are three tests, one dilutions test, and a final. The tests are not cumulative, except the final. There is not a set number of questions, but when I took it, there were about 120 multiple choice questions per test. You take them during a lab class so that you have plenty of time to finish them. The test cover class, lab, and book material. There is also a special section for the bacteria used in lab or mentioned in class and you have to match them up with their shape and gram stain. Calculators are allowed. The tests use two scantron cards and include a short writing/graphing problem at the end.

Tips and Tricks[edit]

  • Bergey's Manual
    • The microbiology lab is not the only place where you can view a Bergey's. Dr. Thornsberry (Mrs.) is more than happy to let you view the copy in her office, provided you stay within her line of vision while you have it. You can also pick up a copy of Bergey's from the campus library if the lab is closed. Visit the front desk and ask them for a copy (make sure to specify what type you need though!). There are available copies on the shelves, but they are all rather old and hard to navigate. The newer copies (like the ones in the lab) are kept downstairs. Even though Dr. Lucido will tell the class that there are manuals at the library, for the most part few students take advantage of this.
  • When to take the class
    • In years past students mainly took microbiology during their second year, however, it has recently become popular to take it during your first year (especially second semester). Though the class is very challenging, taking it during the second semester of your first year gives you the opportunity to talk with all of the second years who have already taken it. Students who have already gone through their unknowns and who can loan you their own notes and study guides are a great help while taking the class, so make sure you take advantage of them!

Why take this class?[edit]

This class is required for the class of '07 and beyond, so there's no choice in the matter.

Microbiology requires a lot of work, so why take the class? Well, if you do not like biology, you probably should not take it. However, the lab makes taking this class worthwhile. You lab materials are superior to any other general education course. You are entrusted with the expensive microscopes. If you like fire, you might have fun playing with the Fischer burners. When you receive your unknowns, you also get a fob to the lab, so you can go in after hours to check on your tests. There are also no annoying lab assistants checking up on your progress.

Biology:

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