Microbial Physiology and Genetics (Bio 4447 and 7447), Spring 2007

 

Instructor:       Dr. RJC McLean

                        Phone (512) 245‑3365, FAX (512) 245-8713

                        Office SCI 364, Email McLean@txstate.edu

                        Office hours M-Th 8:20-9:20 am

 

Course Description: This topics course will cover aspects of bacterial and archaeal physiology and genetics.  Topics addressed will include aspects of cell growth, central metabolism, and several aspects of metabolism that are unique to procaryotic cells.  As well, students will be introduced to some basic concepts of bacterial genetics. The lab associated with this course will complement both aspects of advanced microbiology.

 

Textbooks:

The Physiology and Biochemistry of Procaryotes, 2nd edition, David White, Oxford Publishing, 2000.

 

Snyder, L and Champness, W. Molecular Genetics of Bacteria, 2nd Edition, ASM Press, Washington DC

 

Course Evaluation:

Test 1, February 20 - Covers basic concepts of procaryote phyiology               20%

Test 2, April 5 - Covers concepts of procaryotic genetics and expression          20%

Class presentation of peer-reviewed paper                                                        10%

Lab                                                                                                                  20%

Final Exam (take home), due May 8, 5:00pm                                                    30%

 

Graduate students (Bio 7447) will be required to submit a short review of a peer-reviewed publication published in 2006 or 2007. As well, some additional lab work will be assigned.

 

The final exam will consist of an essay (10 typed page maximum length) written in a mini review format (Journal of Bacteriology format) on any topic related to microbial genetics or physiology.  Topics must be approved in advance by Dr. McLean and students must use peer-reviewed literature.

 

Grading Policy: As a guide, I use the following grading scheme: [A 90-100%, B 80-89%, C 70-79%, D 60-69%, F < 60%].  In situations where a student's grade is within 2% of the cutoff (e.g. 88-92), the final grade will be based on both the grade achieved, and the class attendance and participation. Withdrawing from the course: Students who wish to withdraw from the course must follow the guidelines established by the registrar.

 

Laboratory: The laboratory will consist of several related exercises including: 1) Observing and identifying the stages of a growth curve, 2) determination of protein and enzyme activity, 3) identifying levels of expression of key genes associated with stationary phase, 4) mutagenesis (Ames test), 5) cloning genes and screening colonies, and 6) identifying the presence or absence of genes using PCR, and electrophoresis.