3517.19 - Microbiology


Course number
3517.19
Title
Microbiology
ECTS
7.5
Prerequisites
A) Admitted to the bachelor programme in biology at the University of the Faroe Islands, and following the normal study progression or B) Students following single courses need to have sufficient background in biology and general chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry, like: 3532/3533/3533 Introduction to biology I/II/III, 3512 General and inorganic chemistry; 3513 Organic chemistry; 3514 Biochemistry.
Purpose
To provide students with knowledge of prokaryotes, their taxonomy, biology, ecology and interactions with humans.
Content
Prokaryotic evolution and taxonomy. Prokaryotic structure, function and metabolism. Bacterial identification. Nutrition and culture of microorganisms. Microbial growth. Antibiotics and other ways of controlling bacterial growth. Microbial ecology. Food microbiology. Industrial microbiology. Diseases caused by microbes, their diagnosis and epidemiology. Laboratory exercises: Several exercises in bacterial growth and identification, and in bacteria and food-related issues.
Learning and teaching approaches
Lectures. Student presentations of scientific articles. Problem solving (including obligatory submission or as presentations). Laboratory demonstrations and exercises (obligatory).
Learning outcomes
On completion of the course, the successful student should be able to: 1. Explain Pasteur's results and Koch's postulates and their consequences. 2. Describe in considerable detail the cell structures and functions of Bacteria and Archaea, and contrast the two prokaryotic domains. 3. Give an overview over nutritional demands and central parts of the metabolism of microorganisms. 4. Explain theoretical aspects and analytical methods of evolution, and the practical consequences of evolution, like microbial diversity. 5. Systematize and characterize different bacterial groups. 6. Describe ways and mechanisms of intentional control of microbes (e.g., sterilization, antibiotics, etc.) and their consequences, in particular antibiotic resistance. 7. Describe the normal microflora in humans, how pathogenic microbes interact with humans, and our mechanisms of defense, including immunity mechanisms. 8. Describe the epidemiology, spreading and diagnosis of microbial diseases. 9. Describe microbial interactions with the human environment, including food and water, and relate these interactions to public health. 10. Generally describe viruses and virology. 11. Examine the global cycling of important elements and relate the cycles to microorganisms. 12. Explain and use several methods in microbiology.
Assessment method
Combination of 1) accepted obligatory presentations, exercises and laboratory reports and 2) graded written examination. 1) The obligatory presentations, exercises and laboratory reports must be delivered and accepted within the specified deadlines. 2) Three-hour written examination (pen and paper), consisting of two parts (questions handed out separately). The first part is a 1 h multiple choice-type test with no auxiliary materials allowed. Then follows a 2 h essay-type exam with auxiliary materials allowed (book, notes, own computer), but no Internet access. If the student finishes the first part of the exam before 1 h, the student is allowed to proceed to the second part. In any case, the student must hand in the answers of the first part before the questions for the second part is handed over. The multiple choice part of the exam counts 1/3 of the grade, and the essay part counts 2/3.
Examination
External
Marking scale
7-
Bibliography
MT Madigan, KS Bender, DH Buckley, WM Sattley, DA Stahl: Brock - Biology of Microorganisms, 15th edition. Pearson Benjamin Cummings 2018, 1064 pages. ISBN-10: 1-292-23510-1 ISBN-13: 978-1-292-23510-3 Hand-outs.
Contact
Svein-Ole Mikalsen