BIOLOGY 344 MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY

TEXTBOOK:  Laboratory Exercises in Microbiology.   Prescott

COURSE DESCRIPTION:  This course will introduce laboratory techniques used for studying prokaryotic organisms.  Upon successful completion of the lab, students should be proficient in basic: safety, sterile technique, bright-light microscopy, staining, biochemical analysis, culturing of bacteria, and identification techniques used in microbiology labs.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:  A student successfully completing basic microbiology will demonstrate the ability to:

• Use a bright field light microscope to view and interpret slides.
• Properly prepare slides for microbiological examination
• Properly use aseptic techniques for the transfer and handling of microorganisms and instruments
• Use appropriate microbiological media and test systems
• Estimate the number of microbes in a sample using serial dilution techniques.

TOPICS COVERED:

• Safety
• Bright-Field microscopy
• Environmental Sampling
• Simple Stain, Negative Stain, Streak plate
• Microbial Culture Media
• Gram Stain
• Culture Transfer
• Making Yogurt
• Molecular Biology
• Biochemical Tests and staining
• Bacteriophage
• Background research for unknowns
• Unknowns assigned and worked on
• Medical Microbiology
• Food Microbiology