Centre for Science - BIOL 325 lab resources
The purpose of the Study Guide is to help you to learn the specific concepts of the course, as outlined in objectives within each lesson. The fifteen Study Guide units are listed below; each one covers one or more textbook chapters.
| Unit 1: Introduction to Microbiology | |
|---|---|
| Lesson 1 | The Microbial World and You |
| Lesson 2 | Historical Overview of Microbiology |
| Lesson 3 | Introduction to Microbiological Principles |
| Lesson 4 | Introduction to Applications |
| Unit 2: Microbial Anatomy | |
| Lesson 1 | Principles of Microscopy |
| Lesson 2 | Preparing Specimens for Light Microscopy |
| Lesson 3 | The Prokaryotic Cell—External Structures |
| Lesson 4 | The Prokaryotic Cell—Internal Structures |
| Lesson 5 | The Eukaryotic Cell |
| Unit 3: Microbial Biochemistry | |
| Lesson 1 | Review of Chemistry |
| Lesson 2 | Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry |
| Lesson 3 | Microbial Metabolism |
| Lesson 4 | Microbial Energy Transformation and Biochemical Pathways |
| Lesson 5 | Patterns of Microbial Nutrition |
| Unit 4: Microbial Growth | |
| Lesson 1 | Requirements for Growth |
| Lesson 2 | Culture Media |
| Lesson 3 | Growth of Bacterial Cultures |
| Lesson 4 | Enumeration of Microbial Numbers |
| Lesson 5 | Controlling Microbial Growth |
| Lesson 6 | Actions of Microbial Agents |
| Lesson 7 | Physical Methods of Control |
| Lesson 8 | Chemical Methods of Control |
| Unit 5: Microbial Genetics | |
| Lesson 1 | DNA and Chromosomes |
| Lesson 2 | DNA Replication |
| Lesson 3 | RNA and Protein Synthesis |
| Lesson 4 | Gene Expression in Bacteria |
| Lesson 5 | Mutation |
| Lesson 6 | Genetic Transfer and Recombination |
| Unit 6: Classification of Microorganisms | |
| Lesson 1 | Phylogeny |
| Lesson 2 | Classification of Microorganisms |
| Lesson 3 | Classification Techniques |
| Unit 7: The Prokaryotes: Domains Bacteria and Archaea | |
| Lesson 1 | The α-Proteobacteria |
| Lesson 2 | The β-Proteobacteria |
| Lesson 3 | The γ-Proteobacteria |
| Lesson 4 | The δ-Proteobacteria |
| Lesson 5 | The ε-Proteobacteria |
| Lesson 6 | Purple and Green Photosynthetic Bacteria |
| Lesson 7 | The Nonproteobacteria Gram-Negative Bacteria |
| Lesson 8 | The Gram-Positive Bacteria with Low G+C Ratio |
| Lesson 9 | The Gram-Positive Bacteria with High G+C Ratio |
| Lesson 10 | Domain Archaea |
| Unit 8: The Eukaryotes: Fungi, Algae, Protozoa and Arthropods | |
| Lesson 1 | Characteristics of Fungi |
| Lesson 2 | Medically Important Phyla of Fungi |
| Lesson 3 | Medical and Economic Effects of Fungi |
| Lesson 4 | Characteristics of Algae |
| Lesson 5 | Lichens and Slime Molds |
| Lesson 6 | Protozoa |
| Lesson 7 | Arthropods |
| Unit 9: Viruses, Viroids and Prions | |
| Lesson 1 | Characteristics of Viruses |
| Lesson 2 | Viral Taxonomy |
| Lesson 3 | Isolation and Identification of Viruses |
| Lesson 4 | Viral Multiplication |
| Lesson 5 | Viruses and Cancer |
| Lesson 6 | Acellular Infectious Agents |
| Unit 10: Diseases and Epidemiology | |
| Lesson 1 | Principles of Disease |
| Lesson 2 | Etiology of Infectious Diseases |
| Lesson 3 | Classification, Transmission and Patterns of Infection |
| Lesson 4 | Nosocomial Infections |
| Lesson 5 | Epidemiology |
| Unit 11: Pathogenicity | |
| Lesson 1 | Entry |
| Lesson 2 | Bacterial Pathogenicity |
| Lesson 3 | The Pathogenic Role of Plasmids |
| Lesson 4 | Viruses, Fungi and Protozoa |
| UNIT 12: IMMUNOLOGY | |
| Lesson 1 | Nonspecific Defence Mechanisms |
| Lesson 2 | Inflammation and Fever |
| Lesson 3 | Complement and Interferon |
| Lesson 4 | Specific Defence Mechanisms |
| Lesson 5 | Antigens and Antibodies |
| Lesson 6 | B-cell Immunity |
| Lesson 7 | T-cell Immunity |
| Lesson 8 | Hypersensitivity Reactions |
| Lesson 9 | Autoimmunity |
| Lesson 10 | Immune Deficiencies |
| Unit 13: Medical Microbiology | |
| Lesson 1 | Microbial Diseases of the Skin and Eyes |
| Lesson 2 | Microbial Diseases of the Nervous System |
| Lesson 3 | Microbial Diseases of the Cardiovascular and Lymphatic Systems |
| Lesson 4 | Microbial Diseases of the Respiratory System |
| Lesson 5 | Microbial Diseases of the Digestive System |
| Lesson 6 | Microbial Diseases of the Urinary and Reproductive Systems |
| Unit 14: Environmental Microbiology | |
| Lesson 1 | Metabolic Diversity |
| Lesson 2 | Soil Microbiology and Biogeochemical Cycles |
| Lesson 3 | Degradation of Synthetic Chemicals in Soil and Water |
| Lesson 4 | Aquatic Microbiology and Sewage Treatment |
| Unit 15: Microbiological Applications | |
| Lesson 1 | Food Microbiology |
| Lesson 2 | Industrial Microbiology |
| Lesson 3 | Monoclonal Antibody Production |
| Lesson 4 | Vaccine Production |
| Lesson 5 | Antibiotics |
| Lesson 6 | Recombinant DNA and Biotechnology |
Experiments
| Day | Schedule |
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| Day 2 |
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| Day 3 |
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| Day 4 |
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Students registered in a grouped-study version of the course, or those receiving financial assistance, may face more rigorous time constraints. All students should check their course registration for any restrictions, and be prepared to adjust their schedule.
The following schedule is suggested to help students complete the course in about sixteen weeks—the normal amount of time for a course of this type in a campus-based setting. Students may, of course, proceed more quickly, or more slowly; however, they must write the final examination within six months of their "start date." See Athabasca University Calendar for details.
| Week | Activity |
|---|---|
| 1 | Complete Units 1 and 2 |
| 2 | Complete Units 3 and 4 |
| 3 | Complete Unit 5 Complete TME 1 and submit it to your tutor for grading |
| 4 | Complete Unit 6 |
| 5-6 | Complete Unit 7 Request the mid-course examination |
| 7 | Complete Unit 8 Complete TME 2 and submit it to your tutor for grading |
| 8 | Study for and write the midterm examination |
| 9 | Complete Unit 9 |
| 10 | Complete Units 10 and 11 |
| 11-12 | Complete Unit 12 Complete TME 3 and submit it to your tutor for grading |
| 13 | Complete Unit 13 Request the final examination |
| 14 | Complete Unit 14 |
| 15 | Complete Unit 15 Complete TME 4 and submit it to your tutor for grading |
| 16 | Study for and write the midterm examination |
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Updated July 25, 2023 by Digital & Web Operations (web_services@athabascau.ca)