Microbiology - Growth in batch culture
Description:
The objective of this course (Microbiology) is to achieve knowledge about the growth and metabolism of prokaryots, the structure and life cycle of viruses, and the interaction between microorganisms and their hosts. I am responsible for a module on microbial growth where students have "hands on" experience on laboratory practices for assessing microbial density and activity at different growth stages. On a following day we analyze the data from the laboratory exercise and discuss them on the light of theoretical concepts.
Intended Learning Outcomes:
- Describe and compare how microorganisms can be quantified by culture-dependent and culture-independent methods.
- Assess which method is suitable for a given situation when considering the accuracy and detection limit of the method.
| Resources | Tasks | Supports | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Out of class |
|||||
|
Laboratory manual available on Brightspace and lecture on Microbial growth |
→ |
Read the Lab Manual ↓ |
← |
No support |
|
|
In class day 1 |
|||||
|
Printed laboratory manual |
→ |
Perform laboratory exercises on quantification of microbial density (using culture-dependent and culture-independent methods) and activity at different time points ↓ |
← |
Exercises performed under guidance of the teacher and teacher's assistants |
|
|
In class day 2 |
|||||
|
Excel spreadsheet pre-compiled with raw experimental data from day 1 |
→ |
Calculate: 1) growth curves based on culture-dependent and culture-independent methods; 2) overall culture microbial activity; and 3) cell-specific microbial activity. ↓ |
← |
Data analysis performed under guidance of the teacher using screen-sharing. |
|
|
Lecture on Microbial growth prior to the lab |
→ |
Identify phase of microbial growth and discuss pro and cons of culture-dependent and culture-independent methods |
← |
Data interpreted under guidance of the teacher |
|