Course Description
Authentic research projects are conducted in an intensive laboratory course. Genetic approaches and molecular biology will be used to test hypotheses concerning transcription, metabolism, and physiology in a soil bacterium. Students investigate novel topics, plan experiments, analyze data, and present results. Accurate and detailed records must be kept up to date in electronic lab notebooks. Research results may be published in peer-reviewed journals.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Term paper on selected topics in microbial physiology.
Athena Title
Experimental Microbiology Lab
Non-Traditional Format
Because of the nature of the lab work, the actual times for lectures varies from week to week.
Prerequisite
[(MIBO 3500 or MIBO 3500E or MIBO 3500H) and MIBO 3500L] or permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
The course objective is to introduce students to modern laboratory methods used to analyze prokaryotes. Students will be familiar with modern experimental methods for the genetic and biochemical analysis of bacteria. Students will understand how to design and interpret experiments that focus on the analysis of specific genes in biochemical pathways and the expression of these genes. In addition, students will learn to use their knowledge of microbial physiology to isolate particular groups of bacteria. Information will be assimilated by the students through a variety of methods that will include class lectures, assigned readings, laboratory exercises, and in-class demonstrations. Students will be expected to demonstrate competence in the expected learning outcomes by the successful execution of laboratory exercises. Students will be evaluated by the degree to which their experiments yield reproducible and reliable data, their analysis and interpretation of these data, and their understanding of topics covered in class as assessed by written exams and quizzes. Students taking the course for graduate level credit will also be assessed on the basis of an in-class presentation or term paper.
Topical Outline
I. Microbial growth A. viable counts B. light scattering C. cell density gene expression II. Dissemination of antibiotic resistance A. plasmid borne drug resistance B. chromosomal encoded drug resistance C. plasmid isolation and analysis III. Isolation of specific groups of bacteria A. photosynthetic bacteria B. bioluminescent bacteria C. methylotrophic bacteria D. mxyobacteria IV. Enzyme induction A. induction of the lactose operon B. assaying beta-galactosidase activity in bacteria V. DNA inversion A. use of a reporter gene to assess inversion B. calculating inversion frequencies C. analysis of inversion by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) VI. Mutagenesis A. chemical mutagenesis B. transposon mutagenesis C. analysis of transposon mutants by inverse PCR D. analysis of transposon mutants by genomics VII. Mutational analysis of a complex biochemical pathway A. phenotypic analysis of Acinetobacter mutants unable to utilize benzoate and/or anthranilate B. complementation of mutants
Syllabus