Undergraduate Course: Molecular Microbiology 3 (BILG09013)
Course Outline
| School | School of Biological Sciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 9 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Molecular Microbiology provides insight into the fascinating diversity of microorganisms and how they interact with their environment. Many of these interactions are of great benefit to man (e.g. for yoghurt and beer production), as well as harmful (e.g. infectious pathogens). The course explores the basic theory behind several of the most important microbial processes and examines how they operate at a molecular level. The course also has a substantial practical component which is designed to highlight the properties of living microorganisms in action. These practical sessions are aimed primarily at demonstrating how microorganisms can be characterised, controlled or harnessed. |
| Course description |
This course follows on from Microorganisms, Infection & Immunity 2 and Genes and Gene Action 2. Core microbiology material is covered in Molecular Microbiology 3, as preparation for the second semester courses Biotechnology 3 and Medical Microbiology 3, and will not be repeated in these courses.
The underlying aim of the Molecular Microbiology course is to provide deeper insight into how microorganisms work at the molecular level. Microorganisms are the most abundant life forms on the planet, as well as the largest natural reservoir of genetic material available to drive evolution. Thus, they have a major influence on the dynamics of the world as we know it. Many microbial activities are of great benefit to man (e.g. for yoghurt, cheese, bread, alcohol, antibiotics, nutrient cycling, detoxification of pollutants), but others are harmful or even fatal (e.g. infectious diseases of plants, animals and humans, such as potato blight, avian 'flu', and tuberculosis). This course explores the basic mechanisms of some of the most important microbial processes at a cellular and sub-cellular level.
Some of the key questions we will address are: how do bacteria reproduce? How do they communicate with each other, and build multicellular structures? How do they move? How do they produce toxins and other substances to affect their environment? What constitutes a bacterial genome, and how is it affected by plasmids and bacteriophages? Other sections of the course relate to fungi, a large, important and under-studied group of organisms which play major roles in the environment. We will look at how fungi grow, interact with each other (even waging fungal 'warfare'), and cause human diseases. Finally, we will consider viruses, the most abundant and diverse 'organisms'. We will consider the key groups of viruses, their properties, and their significance as agents of infectious diseases and cancer, as well as their varied uses in genetic engineering and therapy.
The course also includes a number of key 'transferable skills' elements, including a substantial and very popular practical component which is designed to complement the lecture course, and to introduce and reinforce the key techniques required for working with microorganisms. There are also student presentations to enhance oral and written presentation skills, as well as a tutorial on effective literature searching, and electronic self-assessment sessions to help you revise the lecture material. Molecular Microbiology 3 lays the foundation for Biotechnology Honours and Infectious Diseases Honours and is also recommended for Immunology Honours.
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Equivalent of the courses listed above |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2017/18, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 21,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 8,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 28,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 1,
Summative Assessment Hours 4,
Other Study Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
132 )
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| Additional Information (Learning and Teaching) |
QMP study
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
49 %,
Coursework
33 %,
Practical Exam
18 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Normally two items of in courses assessment plus one 2 hour exam. |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
|
| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | Molecular Microbiology 3 | 2:00 | | | Resit Exam Diet (August) | | 2:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- To provide a comprehensive knowledge base framework of the key features and functions of the main groups of microorganisms - bacteria, fungi and viruses ¿ and to examine how they operate at a cellular and sub-cellular level.
- Through laboratory training, to provide skills in basic microbiological techniques, including molecular genetical techniques, and in safe handling of microorganisms at containment level 2.
- Through laboratory exercises and tutorials, to develop skills in critical observation, investigative and interpretative approaches in biology; to promote careful recording and analysis of laboratory work.
- Through essays and other written assignments, with feedback from teaching staff, to promote scientific writing skills and to encourage the use of library and other reference sources.
- Through an oral presentation, to promote skills in succinct oral communication of science.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Knowledge and Understanding: All components of the course provide this to some degree but your lectures, in particular, provide an important framework upon which you can build these attributes. This University considers itself to be a research-led Institution and you will be exposed to cutting edge information and ideas as you progress through your degree course. In this course you will develop a comprehensive knowledge of key features and functions of major groups of microorganisms and of how their processes operate at a molecular level.
Research and Enquiry: These skills are enhanced by encouraging further reading of books, research papers and electronic materials, to embellish your lecture and practical material. They underpin your ICA material (essay and summary). Understanding how to use Web of Knowledge, in part, prepares you for these aspects. It provides a route to surveying current and past scientific arguments, in an appropriate context, and provides the foundation for hypothesis driven analysis.
Personal and Intellectual Autonomy: By reading and preparation of materials for tutorial sessions, you will learn to synthesise your own views, develop reasoned arguments and further refine your scientific judgement. In addition, in this course we encourage self-development through use of past papers and the online assessment system, Question Mark Perception. Such skills will enhance your capacity for life-long and independent learning.
Communication: This is a key attribute of all scientists and it is therefore important that you develop skills to interact constructively with others and convey knowledgeable and balanced scientific views. Our Presentation and discussion tutorials provide a forum for this but we also encourage these skills in the Course Debate and the Learn Discussion Forum.
Personal Effectiveness: The ability to organise and summarise your thoughts and material in a flexible and accessible way are core features that are required for personal effectiveness. Planning, time management and reflection are central to this. Of course these features also interlink with your personal and intellectual autonomy. By providing you with a timetable where key submission dates are highlighted, we are encouraging you to develop your effectiveness throughout this course. These same skills extend to other courses and also to your overall ability to maximise your achievement whilst studying at this University. However they also apply to every other aspect of your current and future life. Many aspects of what you achieve in your life can be significantly influenced by you!
Technical and Practical Skills: In order to continue in a scientific career it is important that you not only understand the conceptual basis of how experiments are designed and carried out but also that you have the underpinning practical skills required for employability. Our course has a particularly heavy laboratory component which is designed to prepare your for this, as well as to assist you in your future Honours course projects. As part of this, your laboratory training provides skills in basic microbiological techniques, and in safe handling of pathogenic microorganisms. The laboratory skills you develop from your practical sessions, in critical observation, investigation and interpretation, careful recording, quantification and analysis, should serve you well in any future employment. |
| Keywords | MolMic3 |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Chris French
Tel: (0131 6)50 7098
Email: |
Course secretary | Mr Samuel Bishop
Tel: (0131 6)51 3404
Email: |
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