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Unit of Study MICR2001 - Microbiology (2024)

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Unit Snapshot

  • Unit type

    UG Coursework Unit

  • Credit points

    12

  • Faculty/College

    Faculty of Health

  • Placement

    No

  • Enrolment information

    Please note this unit has assessments scheduled in Week 7 which will require attendance on-campus. Details will be provided closer to the time.

Unit description

Introduces students to the concepts, principles and techniques of microbiology. Students gain an understanding of the morphological, biochemical and genetic diversity of microbes, supported by practical skills, including staining, aseptic techniques, culture and manipulation of microbes.

Unit content

  1. Foundation concepts of microbiology and an introduction to microorganisms, including an overview of prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
  2. Principles of microbial genetics, metabolism, and growth, and their relevance to microbial culture, classification and identification, infection control and biotechnology.
  3. Bacterial survey, and the classification of fungi, algae, protozoa, helminths, viruses, viroids, and prions.
  4. Principles of infectious disease, epidemiology, and microbial pathogenicity, including the associated role of antimicrobial drugs.

 

Availabilities

Location Domestic International
Gold Coast
Term5
Term5

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

summarise and compare the classification, growth, metabolism, genetics, virulence and transmission of microorganisms

work in a team to manipulate microorganisms, including biotechnology applications and safe control measures

present principles of host-microbe interactions and infectious disease, and how microorganisms are controlled to prevent and treat infectious disease

apply microbiological techniques safely, to generate, analyse and interpret microbiological data individually and in collaboration

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts
  • No prescribed texts.
Prescribed Resources/Equipment

  • Parker, N., Schneegurt, M., Tu, A.T., Forster, B.M., & Lister, P., Microbiology, OpenStax, Nov 1, 2016, Houston, Texas, https://openstax.org/books/microbiology/pages/1-introduction

     

  • The following items must be purchased and students must wear them at each laboratory class:

    • Shoes – fully enclosed non-absorbent shoes made from leather, rubber or vinyl. Shoes must have a sturdy sole and fully covered heel, sides, top of foot and toes. If you are unsure of appropriate footwear please see further information on the Lab Safety video available on the Blackboard site or you can check with Lab technical staff on campus.
    • Safety glasses – available at Co-op Bookshop. Safety glasses must be worn when performing experiments that involve the use of chemicals or bodily fluids. If you wear prescription glasses, you must purchase safety glasses that fit over your prescription glasses.
    • A scientific calculator will also be required.
    • A plastic-covered notebook for collecting and writing up their experimental data.
    • A plastic display folder with plastic sleeves to store/display laboratory manual. These last two items must be impermeable (i.e. plastic) in order to be decontaminated before leaving the laboratory.

    A laboratory manual is provided for laboratory classes. Gloves and laboratory coats are provided and must be worn during laboratory activities. Students must watch the Lab Safety video, and the PC2 Lab Safety video available on the Blackboard site, and obtain 100% on each quiz relevant to each video. Students who do not meet the OH&S requirements will not be admitted to the laboratory.

     

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.