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An introduction to the principles and basic laboratory methods employed in working with bacteria.

1) Gain hands on experience with basic methods of culturing, identifying, and handling of bacteria (aseptic techniques, streak plating, staining methods, microscopy, etc.)

2) Apply laboratory skills acquired to isolate, culture and identify an unknown mixture of bacteria.

Required Text: Laboratory Experiments in Microbiology, by Johnson and Case, 9^th Edition.

ADD/DROP Policy: The add/drop policy for this course is the same as the university add/drop policies. Students should refer to the Class Schedule for the appropriate add/drop dates.

NOTE: If you are immunocompromised for any reason or are pregnant, you need to check with your physician before continuing in the class. If either of these cases applies to you, you need to provide a note from your doctor stating that it is ok for you to be in a microbiology lab. I will be glad to provide a list of organisms and reagents used if you would like one.

93-100 = A, 90-92 = A-, 87-89 = B+, 83-86 = B, 80-82 = B-, 77-79 = C+, 73-76 = C, 70-72 = C-, 67-69 = D+, 60-66 = D, < 60 = F

Due to budget cuts imposed upon the CSU, the faculty and staff of the Department of Biological Sciences are required to observe unpaid furlough days throughout the semester. No classes will be held on furlough days; however, you are still responsible for materials assigned on these dates. Below is the tentative class schedule for this course with furlough days. Furlough days may be subject to change.

Tentative schedule (The dates below reflect the day you begin an experiment)

Date		Subject	Lab exercise(s)
Feb	16	Introduction Supply drawer check in General Lab rules and instructions
	18	Microscope assignment and review (Neil) Microscope practice Wet mount, Brownian vs. Motility	1, 2
	23	Microbes in the environment Transfer of bacteria	3, 4
	25	Staining Methods	5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Mar	2	Quiz #1 (intro-ex. 4) Isolation of Bacteria Special Media for Isolation	11 12
	4	Quiz #2 (ex. 5-9) Microbial Metabolism	13, 14, 15, 16, 17
	9	Microbial Metabolism (cont’d)
	11	Quiz #3 (ex. 11-17) Microbial Growth	19, 20
	16	Furlough
	18	*Laboratory Exam (100 points) – up to microbial growth*
	23	Control of Microbial Growth	22, 23, 24, 25, 26
	25	Control of Microbial Growth (cont’d)
	30	Quiz #4 (ex. 22-26) Microbiology of Water Microbiology of Soil	52, 53, 56, 57
Apr	1	Medical microbiology demonstration
	6	Spring Break
	8	Spring Break
	13	Quiz #5 (ex. 52-53, 56-57, medical micro demo) Begin Unknowns
	15	Unknowns
	20	Furlough
	22	Unknowns
	27	Unknowns
	29	Unknowns
May	4	Unknowns
	6	Furlough
	11	Unknowns
	13	Unknowns
	18	Unknowns
	20	Unknowns due (100 points) Final Laboratory Exam (100 points)

1. Come to lab prepared: We do a lot of different stuff in these labs and sometimes you will have many experiments going on at the same time but the lab experiments can be finished in the allotted time if you read the laboratory exercises and have a reasonably good idea of the game plan for a particular lab before coming to class.

2. You are responsible for all lab reports for the experiments unless otherwise notified. On the occasion that the entire experiment is not performed, or changes have been made in the technique or organisms used from those listed in your lab manual, you are responsible for the part that is performed and noting the changes in your lab manual.

3. Copy the board or overheads. This is a synopsis of what’s going on in lab including changes that were made to lab protocols. The lab exercises may seem self-explanatory while you’re in lab but when you’re at home trying to work on your lab notebook you may find it useful to have all the material in your lab book. Also some experiments may take several days to complete, so you need to keep organized, accurate notes of what you have done.

4. Stay on top of the assignments – organizing and completing you lab notebooks as you go. If you wait too long you may forget what you did or what the results were.

5. Work with and communicate with me – do not hesitate to ask any question. If you are unsure about something, ask before you do.

6. Work with and communicate with your lab partner – when working as a group, it’s easy to fall into the “I thought you were doing that” syndrome, so be clear about who is doing what. Furthermore, even when you are working with others on an experiment you must also be familiar with all parts of the exercises.

7. Arrive on time – You may miss quizzes and/or important instructions for the lab exercises, and it is also disruptive to the class. Partners will arrive together and leave together, especially important for the exercises for which you will be working in groups.

8. No use of cell phones during lab – turn all cell phones and pagers off before coming to lab. If you have an emergency situation and are waiting for a call, please let me know at the beginning of lab. If you need a calculator, bring one. You will not be allowed to use your phone as a calculator or for taking photos.