BIOL 230 Course Information, Dr. G. E. Kaiser

The laboratory portion of the course accounts for 30% of your final grade is based on 6 lab quizzes, a creative project, your performance in lab on 12 core labs, lab reports turned in for each of the 3 case study labs, and the lab report for your Final Project.

The BIOL 230 E-lab manual will be your laboratory manual for this course. (A PDF of the lab manual can be purchased at the Catonsville campus bookstore or printed from the menu of the BIOL 230 course website.)

Core Labs

Since lab provides a critical hands-on component to the understanding of Microbiology, attendance in the majority of labs is essential. The following 12 lab exercises are considered "core labs" and students will be graded on their mastery of lab techniques for each of these labs.

  1. Introduction to the Microscope and Comparison of Size and Shape of Microorganisms
  2. Aseptic Technique and Transfer of Microorganisms
  3. Isolation of Pure Cultures from Mixed Populations
  4. Enumeration of Microorganisms
  5. Direct Stain and Indirect Stain
  6. Gram Stain and Capsule Stain
  8. Biochemical Testing to Identify Microorganisms
12. Isolation and Identification of Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas: Part 1
13. Isolation and Identification of Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas: Part 2
14. Isolation and Identification of Streptococci
15. Isolation and Identification of Staphylococci
19. Using Chemical Agents to Control Microorganisms

Student performance during each of these 12 core labs is worth 10 points for a total of 120 points. Your instructor will allow you to miss only one core labs and only for a valid and documented reason. If the core lab involves inoculation and incubation, 5 core points will be based on  performance during the inoculation lab and 5 points for the results the following lab period. Unless you are able to attend one of the other lab sections doing the lab you miss the week it is missed, there is no way to make up a missed core lab.

Laboratory Case Studies

Labs 12, Lab 14, Lab 15, and the Final Group Project are all case study-based identification of bacterial unknowns. Each of these will require you to turn in a detailed lab report for grading and they will collectively be worth 125 points.

(For summer session only you will turn in the reports for Lab 12 and the Final Group Project: collectively worth 75 points.)

General Directions and Tips for Writing your Lab Report

1. Print a PDF copy of your Lab Report and a copy of all rubrics that will be used to grade your Lab Report from the links in your on-line lab manual. The report will not be graded if the rubrics are not included. Staple the rubrics to the back of your Lab Report.

2. Read over the rubrics your instructor will use to grade your Lab Report so you can maximize the number of points you earn.

3. Fill in each section of your Lab Report sequentially as if you were doing an actual diagnosis.

a. The patient's history and patient's symptoms should suggest a general type of infection, such as a urinary tract infection, a wound infection, gastroenteritis, strep throat, pneumonia, septicemia, etc. Search at least one medically-oriented reference article from a reliable site such as Medscape and use this article to support your diagnosis of the type of infection. Don't forget to cite any sources you used in APA style under the Patient's History and Patient's Symptoms sections of your Lab Report.

b. Look at the results of any laboratory tests- such as a CBC or a urine dipstick test - that are given in the case study and, using the descriptions presented in the Appendix to your lab manual, explain how each of these tests helps to support your diagnosis of the type of infection.

c. Explain how the results of each of the micrbiological lab tests you performed sequentially lead to your diagnosis of the bacterium causing the infection presented in the case study.

4. The lab 12, lab 14, and lab 15 Lab Reports are worth 25 points each. The Final Lab Project Lab Report is worth 50 points.

5. These case studies are based in part on your in-class participation as part of your group. Therefore:

a. If you were not in lab when the inoculations with your unknown were performed, 3 points will be deducted from your Lab Report score for labs 12, 14, and 15; 6 points from your Lab Report score for the Final Project.

b. If you were not in lab when the results of your lab tests were observed, 3 points will be deducted from your Lab Report score for labs 12, 14, and 15; 6 points from your Lab Report score for the Final Project..

c. For each day your Lab Report is late, 2 points will be deducted from your Lab Report score for labs 12, 14, and 15; 4 points from your Lab Report score for the Final Project..

6. Although you are working in groups, each person in your group must turn in their own original Lab Report. Copies of identical reports will be treated as plagiarism.

 

In addition, there will be five lab quizzes worth between 38 and 60 points each. One will be given after approximately every four labs. Lab quizzes will be a combination of multiple choice, matching, short answer, and practical questions. Questions will come directly from the Performance Objectives found at the end of each lab exercise. Lab quizzes will be given in lab prior to beginning that day's assigned lab exercise.

If you miss a lab quiz, you will not be allowed to make it up unless you have a valid excuse. No one will be allowed to make up more than one missed lab quiz during the course.

There is also a required Creative Project worth 20 points. The purpose of this is to have some fun with microbiology. It could be a drawing, painting, poster, mobile, sculpture, song, poem, game, something edible ‑‑ virtually anything creative that also shows an understanding of some aspect of microbiology. The Creative Project is due by the last day of class. (During summer session only, the creative project is optional and worth up to 5 points extra credit.)

Lab Safety Policy

No food or drink is allowed in any science lab at any time. Feet should be covered shoesthat cover the tops of the feet to provide protection from broken glass, spilled chemicals, and other laboratory hazards. Goggles, gloves, and lab coats are required when harmful chemicals or bacterial cultures are handled. Failure to abide by laboratory safety policies will result in removal of students from the class. For additional lab safety requirements see “Laboratory Rules” in the Introduction to your Lab Manual.