MCB 3020L: General Microbiology Laboratory

Fall 2009

Teaching Schedule

Section	TA	E-mail	Office Hours	Teaching Day and Time
1	Brett Jestrow	bjest001@fiu.edu	Friday, 12-2 pm (HLS-317)	Mondays and Wednesdays, 9-11.50 am
2	Shilpa	schen011@fiu.edu	Friday, 1-3 pm (OE-308)	Mondays and Wednesdays, 12-2.50 pm

The Lab Manual is On-Line:  Download Experiments and Other Material and Print out from this site.

Students must download and print out Rules and Lab Reports before coming to the first lab session during the first week.   Also you will need:  Microscope Maintenance and the Appendix from the on-line Lab Manual

Problems with downloading and printing pdf files:  You should have Adobe 4 or higher (its free from the web); then open Adobe Acrobat from your Program list (or shortcut), click on Edit, click on Preferences, click on General, the menu that comes up has, a few lines down from the top, a box next to "Allow Fast Web Access", click this OFF (no check mark in the box.  Then, close Adobe and go back to download any pdf file.

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Schedule and Tasks Sheet - Fall 2009

Lab	Day	Tasks
1	Aug 26	Introduction to Microbiology Lab and Microscopy*
2	Aug 31	Gram Stain*
3	Sept 02	Viable Titer and Pure Culture
-	Sept 07	LABOR DAY HOLIDAY
4	Sept 09	Experiment 3 contd.*
5	Sept 14	Experiment 3 contd. + Phenotype* (See below for Access to API20 Instructions)
6	Sept 16	Experiment 4 contd.+ Experiment 5  Winogradsky Column (and Enrichment Culture)
7	Sept 21	Experiment 4 contd.+ Experiment 5: Student ORAL Presentations: Enrichment Culture*
8	Sept 23	Experiment 5 contd.  and Experiment 6 Spore and Acid Fast Stains*
9	Sept 28	Experiment 5 contd..*
10	Sept 30	Experiment 5  contd. and Experiment 7 What is Yogurt?*
11	Oct 05	Experiment 7 contd.*  +  30 Minute MIDTERM
12	Oct 07	Experiment 7 contd..*
13	Oct 12	Experiment 7 contd..*
14	Oct 14	Experiment 8  Human Symbiotic Bacteria Last day to drop with a DR grade (Oct 16)
15	Oct 19	Experiment  8 contd.*
16	Oct 21	Experiment  8 contd.*
17	Oct 26	Experiment  8 contd.*
18	Oct 28	Experiment 9 Molecular Taxonomy
19	Nov 02	Experiment 9 contd.*
20	Nov 04	Experiment 9 contd.*
21	Nov 09	Experiment 9 contd.*
-	Nov 11	VETERANS DAY HOLIDAY
22	Nov 16	Experiment 5  Winogradsky Column
23	Nov 18	Experiment 5 contd.* Lab Clean Up
-	Nov 23 & Nov 25	THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
24	Nov 30	Review for the Final
25	Dec 02	FINAL

The exercises listed in the schedule with a star (*) indicate labs for which you must write a lab report.

Link to API20e Instructions API20e IdentificationTable API20ne Instructions API20ne IdentificationTable

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LAB POLICIES

1.  Adherence to Lab Rules in the Lab Manual.  This is the most important because we will be working with microbes  some of which could be pathogenic.  It is utmost importance that students practice good aseptic technique and safety procedures.  Lab coats, gloves and goggles ARE REQUIRED.

2.  Lab Etiquette.  CELL PHONES should be off. 

3.  Lab Clean-Up.  Each lab session students must clean up their work area and disinfect the bench surface (see Lab Manual Rules and Reports).  Do not wash glassware, it all must be sterilized before it can be cleaned.

4.  Cheating.  Any cheating will result in a grade of F.  See the FIU Student Handbook for Standards of Conduct.

5.  Absences.  Specific documentation (doctor's letter, police record, etc.) is required for excused absences.

6.  GRADES:  TA's will correct and grade daily lab reports, the Lab Midterm Exam and Final Exam. There will be no make-up exams given. The TA's will consult with the Professor in charge about grade distribution and the final grade of each student.

Grading Breakdown:

A= 90-100; B= 80- 89; C= 70- 79; D= 60- 69; F= 0- 59

There will be NO curve and Grades will not be posted. The grades will be based on the following:

Daily Lab Reports:  110 points.  

Lab Midterm Exam: 30 points.  

Lab Final Exam: 60 points. 

Total: 200 points

INSTRUCTOR POLICY:  we want you to learn as much as possible and enjoy this course.  We want you to get a good, successful grade.  We will always help you attain these goals.  Please don't hesitate to come to us with questions, concerns, or to discuss any other aspects of the course, research, or lab assistant opportunities.

***Schedule and Syllabus Subject To Change***